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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Jul 2001

Vol. 540 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Paul McGrath

Question:

178 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting list for ENT surgery in the Midland Health Board area; the number on this waiting list who have been waiting for treatment or surgery for periods up to three months, three to six months, six to 12 months, and more than 12 months. [20389/01]

Paul McGrath

Question:

179 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting list for hip operations in the Midland Health Board area; the number on these waiting lists up to three months, three months to six months, six months to one year and over one year; and his proposals to shorten these waiting times. [20390/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together.

Waiting list figures are collated from data supplied by the health agencies and relate to the numbers waiting for procedures at the hospitals within their areas only.

The waiting times data supplied show the number of adults waiting for procedures in the following two categories – those waiting between three and 12 months and those waiting more than 12 months. The waiting times for children are also supplied in two categories – those waiting between three and six months and those waiting more than six months.
The hospital in-patient waiting list data for the Midland Health Board area as at 31 March, the latest date for which figures are available, show that there were 84 patients waiting for hip replacements at hospitals in the Midland Health Board area and that there were 1,004 patients waiting for ENT procedures at hospitals in the area. Of those waiting for hip replacements, 60 patients are waiting between three and 12 months and 24 patients are waiting longer than 12 months. Of those adults waiting for ENT procedures, 252 are waiting between three and 12 months and 475 are waiting 12 months and over. The number of children waiting between three and six months for ENT procedures is 69 and the number waiting six months and more is 208.
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 in 2001. 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. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that £34.5 million has been indicated to health agencies under the waiting list initiative for 2001.

Paul McGrath

Question:

180 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the numbers awaiting first appointments with orthopaedic surgeons in the Midland Health Board area; the numbers waiting for these appointments up to three months, three months to six months and over six months. [20391/01]

Data in relation to out-patient appointments are not routinely collected by my Department. I have, therefore, asked the chief executive officer of the Midland Health Board to look into the matter and reply directly to the Deputy.

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