Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Dec 2001

Vol. 545 No. 5

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

147 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which waiting lists in respect of hip replacements have increased or decreased in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31163/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

148 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which waiting lists in respect of cataract removal have increased or decreased in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31164/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

156 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which waiting lists for heart surgery have been reduced or increased in the past 12 months as a percentage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31172/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 147, 148 and 156 together.

The total number waiting for cardiac surgery as at 30 June 2001, the latest date for which figures are available, was 420. This represents a decrease of 52% over the period 30 June 2000 to 30 June 2001.

The total number waiting for ophthalmic procedures nationally at 30 June 2001, as reported by health agencies, was 2,855, a decrease of 863 since 30 June 2000. The total number waiting for orthopaedic procedures at 30 June 2001, as reported by health agencies, was 4,264, a decrease of 700 since 30 June 2000. Some hospitals did not provide details of the procedures to be carried out within the specialties of ophthalmology and orthopaedics, therefore, the total number waiting for cataract operations and hip operations as at 30 June 2001 is unavailable to my Department.

The number of people on public hospital waiting lists in June 2001 was 26,659. This figure represents a decrease of 5,192, or 16%, on the comparable figure for June 2000. Considerable progress has also been made in reducing waiting times. The number of adults waiting for more than 12 months for treatment and the number of children waiting more than six months for treatment in the target specialties have both fallen by 20% in the same period. Reductions in waiting lists have been achieved across each of the health board regions in the period June 2000 to June 2001.

The new health strategy, which I launched recently, will provide a framework for the reform of the acute hospital system and improved access for public patients. It includes a plan covering the actions required to address the issue of waiting lists and particularly waiting times.

The targets set out in the strategy are that by the end of 2002 no adult will wait longer than 12 months and no child will wait longer than six months for treatment, by the end of 2003 no adult will wait longer than six months and no child will wait longer than three months for treatment and by the end of 2004 no public patients will wait longer than three months for treatment. Until these targets are achieved a new dedicated treatment purchase fund will be used for the purpose of purchasing treatments for public patients either in the private sector or, if necessary, abroad.

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. The review, which has informed the new health strategy, 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 long-terms. The overall target of the new strategy is that an additional 650 beds will be in place by the end of 2002 with an extra 3,000 beds provided over the period to 2011.

The strategy outlines further measures which are designed to address the issues of capacity and efficiency in the delivery of services. A strategic partnership will be developed with the private sector in providing services for public patients and a national hospital agency will be set up to plan the configuration of hospital services. I am confident that these measures will result in a more accessible and equitable acute hospital system for public systems.