John Perry
Question:46 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to monitor waiting lists for those waiting to go on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12583/02]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Under the waiting list initiative, which was introduced in 1993, dedicated funding is made available to health agencies to enable hospitals to carry out targeted in-patient waiting list procedures. The management and monitoring of the out-patient waiting lists is a matter for the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority in the first instance. My Department collects and evaluates in-patient waiting list figures on a quarterly basis.
The health strategy, which I launched last year, provides a framework for the reform of the acute hospital system and improved access for public patients. It outlines measures which are designed to address the issue of efficiency in the delivery of out-patient services. Protocols for investigation and referral to hospital out-patient departments will be developed in conjunction with general practitioners. Nurse-led clinics for selected conditions will be introduced where feasible.
The new health strategy also includes a plan covering the actions required to address the issue of in-patient waiting lists and particularly waiting times. The target set out in the strategy is that by the end of 2004 no public patient 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. Where it is not possible to treat patients within a reasonable period in Ireland, either in public or private hospitals, health boards will make arrangements under the treatment purchase fund to refer public patients for treatment abroad, having regard to quality, availability and cost. This will always be subject to the patient's prior agreement and will be done in co-operation with the patient's consultant and/or general practitioner.
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. I recently announced the commissioning of an additional 709 acute beds in public hospitals at a cost of €65 million. My Department has been advised, by the ERHA and the health boards, that 98 of these beds have been commissioned and that an additional 23 beds will come on stream by the end of April 2002, with a further 49 beds by the end of May 2002. The balance will be introduced on a phased basis during the rest of the year. 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.