Bernard J. Durkan
Question:454 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which he intends to ensure shorter waiting lists in respect of hip operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7495/03]
Written Answers - Hospital Waiting Lists.
The target set out in the national health strategy states that, by the end of 2004, all public patients requiring admission to hospital will be scheduled to commence treatment within a maximum of three months of referral from an out-patient department. Intermediate targets have been set to achieve this aim to ensure that the focus is being turned towards those patients waiting longest for treatment. Waiting list data in respect of the quarter ending December 2002 is being collated at present by my Department.
Considerable progress has been made in reducing waiting times for public patients in 2002. The total number of adults waiting for more than 12 months for orthopaedic in-patient procedures has fallen by 10% between June and September 2002. The total number of adults waiting for more than 12 months for in-patient treatment in the nine target surgical specialities (which includes orthopaedics) covered by the waiting list initiative has fallen by 15% between June and September 2002.
While the waiting list initiative will continue to fund additional elective activity, the dedicated national treatment purchase fund is being used to target those waiting longest for treatment. Funding of €43.8 million has been provided in 2003 for the waiting list initiative and a further €31 million has been provided for the national treatment purchase fund. To date approximately 3,000 patients have received treatment under the national treatment purchase fund.