Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 5

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

204 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the length of time a patient currently has to wait in respect of heart surgery, hip replacement and cataract removal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27784/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

205 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients currently on waiting lists in respect of coronary treatment, hip replacement and cataract removal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27785/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 205 together.

The total number of people on public hospital waiting lists for cardiac surgery, orthopaedic surgery and ophthalmology procedures as at 30 June 2003, the latest date for which figures are available, in the format collected by my Department is provided in the following table:

Specialty	3-12months	12+months	Total
Adults
Cardiac Surgery	179	20	199
Orthopaedic Surgery	2,046	1,156	3,202
Ophthalmology	2,916	632	3,548

Specialty	3-6months	6+months	Total
Children
Cardiac Surgery	9	10	19
Orthopaedic Surgery	46	67	113
Ophthalmology	72	97	169

Despite pressures on the acute hospital system considerable progress has been made by health agencies in reducing waiting times for public patients. The waiting list data for the period ended 30 June 2003 showed that there were significant reductions in the number of adults and children waiting longest for in-patient treatment. The total number of adults waiting more than 12 months for in-patient treatment in the nine target surgical specialties has fallen by approximately 43% from 7,407 to 4,252 in the period June 2002 to June 2003. The total number of children waiting more than six months for in-patient treatment in the same specialties and for the same period has decreased by approximately 57% from 1,576 to 676.

Very significant progress has been made in many health board areas to achieve the target of no adult waiting longer than 12 months and no child waiting longer than six months. This has been achieved through active management of long waiting lists at a local level and the involvement of the national treatment purchase fund. To date, more than 8,000 patients have already received treatments through the NTPF, predominantly in private hospitals in Ireland. The fund has the capacity and funding to arrange treatment for more than 800 patients each month in hospitals throughout Ireland and in four private hospitals in England. To date, the capacity in England has not been fully utilised. The additional capacity identified by the fund covers the majority of surgical specialties. If patients feel that they qualify for treatment and they have not been referred to the NTPF by their doctor I would urge them to contact the NTPF directly.