Vol. 552 No. 4
61 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number on hospital waiting lists at the latest date for which figures are available; the comparable figure for the same date in the previous year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12553/02]
The total number of people on public hospital waiting lists at 31 December 2001, the latest date for which figures are available, was 26,126. This figure represents a decrease of 1,731 or 6% on the comparable figure for December 2000.
Considerable progress has also been made in reducing waiting times for public patients waiting for treatment. The number of adults waiting more than 12 months for treatment in the target specialties has fallen by 14% over the period December 2000 to December 2001. The number of children waiting for more than six months for treatment in the target specialties has fallen by 3% over the same period.
The new health strategy, which I launched last year, 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 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, 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.
