Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

65 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients on waiting lists in respect of heart, hip replacement or eye surgery; the number in each category in June 1997; the extra expenditure in the period 1997 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19307/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

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

Specialty	Number waiting at 30 June 1997	Number waiting at 31 March 2001
Cardiac Surgery	1,598	451
Hip Operations	1,299	776
Ophthalmology	2,486	2,889

Dedicated funding for waiting list procedures of £74.57 million was allocated from 1997 to 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.

Considerable progress has been made in reducing waiting lists and waiting times. Between March 2000 and March 2001, the number of adults waiting for cardiac surgery for more than 12 months decreased by 62%, the number waiting for ophthalmology services for more than 12 months decreased by 36%, and the number waiting for orthopaedic services for more than 12 months decreased by 36%.

During the same period, the number of children waiting for cardiac surgery for more than six months decreased by 78%, the number waiting for general surgery for more than six months decreased by 16%, the number waiting for ophthalmology services for more than six months decreased by 50% and the number waiting for ENT services for more than six months decreased by 29%. These welcome reductions have been achieved in a period of high levels of medical admissions and is a reflection of the major priority that is being attached to addressing high waiting lists.

The overall target for waiting list initiative funding is to ensure that no adult waits longer than 12 months and that no child waits longer than six months for treatment. It is my intention to pursue continual reductions in waiting lists and waiting times for hospital treatment.