Written Answers. - Health Survey.
Michael Bell
Question:
14
Mr. Bell
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
his views on the recently published survey by the ESRI which found that 95% of those surveyed wanted to see increased spending on the reduction of waiting lists and the improvement of health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25592/01]
I assure the Deputy that the Government is well aware of the public's desire for increased health spending on the reduction of waiting lists and the improvement of health services. I might remind the Deputy that the overall budget for health services for 2001 is over £5 billion or 6.35 billion. This represents a doubling by this Government of Exchequer input since 1997. The national development plan represents the greatest level of investment in health capital infrastructure – £2 billion, 2.54 billion at 1999 prices – and is designed to bring benefits to all areas of the health services.
It is worth listing some of the benefits of this increased funding across the whole health system.
Acute Hospitals
Some £1 billion or 1.27 billion has been provided under the national development plan for the development of hospital infrastructure. This will allow for the provision of major developments in the acute hospital sector in every region of the country. This Government has overseen significant increases in hospital activity levels. In particular there has been a 29% increase in day care activity in hospitals since this Government came into office. The hospital system has continued its high productivity performance in January to June 2001 by recording an overall rise of 5.1% activity increase, including almost 11% growth in day cases. This translates into an extra 22,000 cases treated over the same period last year.
There has been an increase of about 25% in the numbers employed in the health service since this Government came into office. We now have about 83,000 wholetime equivalent staff working in the health service. This includes an additional 250 consultants in our hospitals.
Cancer Strategy
Over £60 million or 76.184 million has been allocated under the national cancer strategy since 1997 and an additional 57 consultants together with support staff have been approved.
Cardiovascular Strategy
We are now spending an additional £38 million or 48.250 million on cardiovascular and cardiac surgery services.
Intellectual Disability and Physical Disability
Additional investment of £205 million or 260.35 million has been made for the period mid-1997 to 2001 on services, both capital and non-capital, for the intellectually disabled and a further £107 million or 135.89 million for the physically disabled.
Services for Older People
Additional development funding has increased from £3 million or 3.81 million in 1997 to £33 million or 41.91 million this year, excluding funding for nursing home subvention.
Childcare
Since the end of 1997 additional revenue of the order of £92.5 million or 117.475 million has been allocated for the further strengthening and development of child welfare and protection services.
Waiting Lists
Dedicated funding of £74.57 million or 94.68 million was allocated from 1997 to 2000 to health agencies to enable hospitals to carry out waiting list procedures and £34.5 million or 43.805 million has been allocated under the waiting list initiative for 2001 to provide additional procedures to those on waiting lists. Significant decreases have taken place in the number of patients waiting in the target specialties since June 2000; the number awaiting cardiac surgery is down by 52%, gynaecology is down by 35%, ophthalmology is down by 23% orthopaedics is down by 14% and ENT is down by 30%.
Review of Bed Capacity
It is well recognised that the single most important limiting factor for admission to hospital is bed availability. A comprehensive review of bed capacity needs has been conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in consultation with the social partners. The review has focused primarily on the emerging needs to increase bed capacity and to have a strategic framework in place in terms of the number of additional beds required in the short, medium and longer terms. The review of bed capacity will inform the new health strategy.
Health Strategy
The health strategy will provide a framework for growth and development of our health services over the coming years. In addition to issues of capacity of services, the strategy will address issues relating to reform and modernisation of the health system. The strategy will outline the direction and scale of development planned in a number of service and professional areas for example acute hospital bed capacity, primary health care, medical manpower, nursing etc. In addition, the strategy will include a plan covering the actions required for its implementation in the short, medium and long-term.
This Government is committed to the strategic planning and development of the health service. The increased level of capital and non-capital investment which I have outlined is strong evidence of the priority this Government attaches to improving the health services in this country.
