Vol. 545 No. 5
83 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures he is taking regarding the suggestion that hospital waiting lists could be drastically reduced with the assistance of countries in central and eastern Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30943/01]
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 particularly waiting times.
The targets set out in the strategy are as follows: 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. A new dedicated treatment purchase fund will be used for the purpose of purchasing treatments for public patients. It will be a matter for those charged with the operation of the fund to identify the needs and to source appropriate procedures either from private hospitals in Ireland or, if necessary, from 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 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. A national hospital agency will be set up to plan the configuration of hospital services. I am confident these measures will result in a more accessible and equitable acute hospital system for public patients.
