Bernard J. Durkan
Question:107 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients on waiting lists for cataract removals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12767/02]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:108 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients on waiting lists for hip replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12768/02]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:110 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients on waiting lists for heart surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12770/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 108 and 110 together.
The total numbers of people on public hospital in-patient waiting lists for cardiac surgery, oph thalmology, and orthopaedics, as reported by the health agencies at 31 December 2001, the latest date for which figures are available, were as follows: cardiac surgery, 278; ophthalmology, 3,254; and orthopaedics, 4,205.
Some hospitals did not provide details of the procedures to be carried out within the specialties of ophthalmology and orthopaedics. Therefore, the total number waiting for cataract operations and hip replacements is unavailable to my Department.
The number of people on public hospital waiting lists in December 2001 was 26,126. This figure represents an overall decrease of 1,731, or 6% on the comparable figure for December 2000. Considerable progress has been made in reducing the waiting times for cardiac surgery. The number of adults waiting for 12 months and over for cardiac surgery decreased by 67% during the period from December 2000 to December 2001, and the number of children waiting for over six months for cardiac surgery fell by 72% in the same period. The number of adults waiting for 12 months and over for orthopaedic operations decreased by 19% 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 and waiting times in particular.
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, 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. 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 these measures will result in a more accessible and equitable acute hospital system for public patients.