Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

163 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients on waiting lists in respect of cataract treatment, the number of patients on such lists in 1998 and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10231/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

164 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients on waiting lists and requiring various forms of cardiac surgery, the number of such patients on such waiting lists in 1998 and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10232/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

165 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of patients currently on waiting lists in respect of hip operations in 2001 and in 1998 and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10233/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 to 165, inclusive, together.

The hospital in-patient waiting list information requested by the Deputy is as follows:

Specialty	Number waiting at31 Dec 1998	Number waiting at31 Dec 2000
Cataract Treatment	3,110	1,999
Cardiac Surgery	1,229	545
Hip Operations	1,590	1,445

Overall hospital waiting list figures have gone down by almost a quarter since December 1999 and it is my intention to pursue continual reductions in waiting lists and waiting times for hospital treatment in 2001. Dedicated funding 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.