Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 February 2005
189 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of persons on hospital waiting lists at the latest date for which figures are available; the reason she has decided to end the practice of publishing hospital waiting lists every six months (details supplied). [4286/05]
View answerResponsibility for the collation and publishing of waiting list and waiting time data rests with the national treatment purchase fund, NTPF. The NTPF has found that waiting list data shows widespread variation in the recording and reporting of patient data across the hospital system. A new on-line national patient treatment register will now be developed by the fund. The new patient treatment register will allow for more accurate identification of waiting lists, and more importantly waiting times. It is intended that the register will be implemented on a phased basis commencing this year.
