Vol. 545 No. 5
149 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason patients have to go on waiting lists for chemotherapy treatment; his pro posals to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31165/01]
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, in particular, waiting times.
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, 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. I am confident these measures will result in a more accessible and equitable acute hospital system for public patients.
