Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 19 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 5

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

122 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children further to his interview on a programme (details supplied) of 5 November 2003, if the Government commitment given on 6 May 2002 that all hospital waiting lists would be cleared within two years has now been abandoned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27552/03]

Joe Costello

Question:

150 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the hospital waiting lists published on 4 November 2003; his further views on the fact that the latest list shows virtually no improvement over the previous lists; the steps he intends to take to reduce the numbers on the lists and the waiting periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27551/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 150 together.

Over the past two or three decades there has been numerous important advances in surgical technology and in anaesthesia. These advances have improved greatly the range, the safety and the effectiveness of the surgical procedures that can be offered by modern health systems. However as a consequence, there has been dramatic increases in the demand for surgical procedures, especially elective procedures.

Due to the nature of any health care system not all treatments can be made available to patients immediately. Hospital facilities must be used to best effect and it is sometimes necessary to place patients for non-urgent treatments on a waiting list. Therefore, the significant issue from the patient's perspective is the length of time spent waiting for treatment and as such this Government's objective is to reduce waiting times significantly in the short-term with particular focus on those waiting longest for treatment.

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 over 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 then I would urge them to contact the NTPF directly.

While the rate of progress in achieving the targets set out in the health strategy for the reduction in waiting times has been slower than anticipated, the targets still remain in place as goals to be achieved. Funding through the waiting list initiative and the national treatment purchase fund will continue to keep the focus on reducing waiting lists and waiting times.