Bernard J. Durkan
Question:339 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients currently awaiting heart surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17812/03]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:340 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients currently awaiting hip replacement surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17813/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 339 and 340 together.
The total number of people on public hospital in-patient waiting lists for cardiac surgery as at 31 December 2002, the latest date for which figures are available, was 237. This figure represents a decrease of 23% in the period June to December 2002 in the number of patients waiting for cardiac surgery.
The total number of adults waiting for orthopaedic procedures, either as in-patients or as day cases, was 2,965. This figure fell by 16% between June and December 2002.
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. There has been a significant reduction in the number of adults waiting longest for in-patient treatment. The total number of adults waiting more than 12 months for in-patient treatment in the nine target specialties has fallen by 30% from 7,402 to 5,209 in the period June to December 2002. The total number of children waiting for more than six months for in-patient treatment has fallen by more than 31% between June and December 2002.
While the waiting list initiative will continue to fund additional elective activity, the national treatment purchase fund is being used to target those waiting longest for treatment by purchasing treatments for public patients in private hospitals. To date, the national treatment purchase fund has arranged treatment for approximately 4,500 patients.