Donal Carey
Question:27 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on a report (details supplied) on hospital waiting lists published in August 2001. [25509/01]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
The report referred to by the Deputy entitled Waiting Lists: Analysis, Evaluation and Recommendations received wide media coverage at the end of August 2001. The analysis and description of the health service in the report is a useful addition to the current debate on hospital waiting lists. The report also identifies a number of shortcomings in the present system and makes recom mendations on how to address them. It is worth noting, however, that the report recognises that hospital waiting lists cannot be dealt with in isolation from other issues in the hospital service. The report notes that the single most important limiting factor for admission to hospital is bed availability.
In this context a comprehensive review of bed capacity needs has been conducted in both the acute and non-acute sectors 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 need 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 will inform the forthcoming health strategy.
I will continue to focus on the problem of hospital waiting lists and waiting times to ensure that services are available to those who most need them.