Vol. 544 No. 5
134 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the recent report published by the ESRI which found that one in 15 people covered by the general medical services were on a waiting list compared to one in 50 of those with private health insurance; his plans to end the two-tier nature of the hospital service illustrated by these figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29374/01]
The waiting list initiative was introduced in 1993 to address the issue of hospital waiting lists. Since then dedicated funding has been made available to health agencies to enable them to reduce hospital waiting lists as much as possible and to bring waiting times to within reasonable limits. Some £34.5 million, 43.81 million, has been allocated under the waiting list initiative for 2001. Taken together with longer term measures associated with the investment of resources available under the national development plan, my aim is to achieve real progress in improving access to essential health services. I intend to address these issues in the context of the health Strategy and am confident of achieving real progress in the area of waiting lists and more importantly waiting times.
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%.
Considerable progress has also been made in reducing waiting times in target specialties. Between June 2000 and June 2001 the number of children waiting for cardiac surgery for more than six months decreased by 85% and the number waiting for ophthalmology services for more than six months decreased by 31%. During the same period the number of adults waiting for cardiac surgery for more than 12 months decreased by 68% and the number waiting for ophthalmology services for more than 12 months decreased by 38%.
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.
