Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Michael Ring

Question:

559 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the current waiting list for heart operations in each health board area; and the approximate number awaiting assessment and those awaiting treatment in each area. [1225/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The information requested by the Deputy is not routinely collected by my Department. However, I have asked the regional chief executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the chief executive officers of the health boards to collate the information which will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Michael Ring

Question:

560 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the current waiting list for cataract operations in each health board area; and the approximate number awaiting assessment and the number awaiting treatment in each area. [1226/01]

Michael Ring

Question:

561 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the current number on a waiting list for hip operations in each health board area or region; the number awaiting assessment; and the number awaiting treatment in each area. [1227/01]

Michael Ring

Question:

571 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the average waiting time for cataract treatment in each health board region, giving details for the routine, non-routine and urgent waiting lists; and the plans he has to address this situation. [1238/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 560, 561 and 571 together.

The total number on in-patient hospital waiting lists for cataract operations as at 30 September 2000, the latest date for which figures are available, was 2,523. The number waiting for total hip replacements as at 30 September was 1,021. Details for each health board area are as follows:

Health Board	Waiting List for Total Hip Replacements.	Waiting List for Cataract Operations.
Eastern Regional Health Authority	424	1,358
Midland	131	0

Health Board	Waiting List for Total Hip Replacements.	Waiting List for Cataract Operations.
Mid-West	45	345
North-East	107	0
North-West	37	57
South-East	59	206
Southern	100	337
Western	118	220
Total	1,021	2,523

The waiting times for adult cataract procedures as at 30 September 2000, in the format collected by my Department, was 1,789 for those waiting for between three and 12 months and 734 for those waiting 12 months and over.

It is my intention to pursue continual reductions in waiting lists and waiting times for hospital treatment in 2001 following the significant success experienced in this area last year. Dedicated funding for waiting list procedures of £34 million was allocated in 2000 to health agencies to enable hospitals to carry out waiting list procedures and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that £34.5 million has been indicated to health agencies under the waiting list initiative for 2001.

I am also pleased to inform the Deputy that the overall numbers on waiting lists at the end of September 2000, the latest available figures, show a decrease of 7,198, which represents a reduction of 19.5% on the end of December 1999 quarter. This welcome reduction is a reflection of the major priority that is being attached to addressing high waiting lists.

The waiting list initiative funding for 2001 has been made available to health agencies in conjunction with longer term measures associated with the £2 billion investment under the national development plan, the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the expert review group on the waiting list initiative, the national bed capacity review and the winter initiative investment.

In this regard, I was pleased to announce an investment package of £25 million to address a number of key service issues in the acute and non-acute sectors. The investment is being targeted at a number of areas, including the provision of additional step down facilities for patients who have completed the acute phase of their treatment. Many of these patients are older people and require a further level of care in a more appropriate environment. Under the winter initiative, at least 500 additional nursing home places will be contracted from private nursing homes.

I am satisfied this element of the initiative will increase the capacity of the acute hospital sector to address the problem of inappropriate use of hospital beds and will enhance the level of step down care available. It is my intention to continue to take all available steps to address the short and longer term issues associated with leng thy waiting lists and, more importantly, waiting times.