Finian McGrath
Question:294 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress made to date on his commitment to reduce adult waiting lists to less than a year and child lists to six months. [13358/03]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
The overall 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 the focus is being turned towards those waiting longest for treatment. The 2002 target was that no adult would wait longer than 12 months and no child would wait longer than six months to commence treatment. Despite pressures on the acute hospital system and the influence of factors such as the winter vomiting bug, considerable progress has been made by health agencies in reducing waiting times for public patients in 2002.
The total number of children waiting for more than six months for in-patient treatment fell by 24% 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 specialties covered by the waiting list initiative fell by 15% between June and September 2002. Waiting list data in respect of the quarter ending December 2002 will be published shortly. 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 €31 million has been provided for the treatment purchase fund. The fund has capacity available to arrange treatment for adults who have been waiting more than 12 months and children who have been waiting more than six months. To date approximately 4,000 people who had waited a long time have received treatment under the NTPF.
Question No. 295 answered with Question No. 285.