Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
101
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the waiting lists for hip replacements, heart surgery and cataract treatment; the average length of time patients have been on waiting lists; the degree by which waiting lists and times have been shortened in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5874/02]
The numbers on waiting lists and the waiting times for cardiac surgery, orthopaedics and ophthalmology for the periods September 1996 and September 2001, in the format collected by my Department, are being provided separately to the Deputy. Some hospitals did not provide details of the procedures to be carried out within the specialties of ophthalmology and orthopaedics. Therefore, the number waiting for cataract operations and hip operations is unavailable to my Department.
The number of people on public hospital waiting lists in September 2001, was 26,345. This figure represents an overall decrease of 5,174 or 16% on the comparable figure for September 1996. The number of adults waiting for 12 months and over for cardiac surgery decreased by 92% during the period September 1996 to September 2001, and the number of children waiting for over six months for cardiac surgery fell by 71% in the same period. The number of adults waiting for 12 months and over for orthopaedic operations decreased by 35% during the same period.
The new health strategy 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, 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, 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. I recently announced the commissioning of an additional 709 acute beds in public hospitals at a cost of €65 million. This is the first phase of the provision of an additional 3,000 acute beds over the period to 2011, as announced in the health strategy.
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 hospitals 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 patients.
Question No. 102 answered with Question No. 90.
Question No. 103 answered with Question No. 77.
Question No. 104 answered with Question No. 65.
