Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2013
11. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health the measures that have been taken to tackle inpatient and day case waiting lists in Sligo General Hospital; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14301/13]
View answer43 patients were waiting over a year for an inpatient or day case procedure in Sligo Regional Hospital at the end of February 2011. Now, 6 patients are waiting this length of time. This waiting list has been reduced by 86%. 168 patients were waiting over 9 months for an inpatient or day case procedure in Sligo Regional Hospital at the end of February 2011. Now, 94 patients are waiting this length of time. This waiting list has been reduced by 44%. This improvement in waiting list numbers is mirrored throughout the country. There are 35 hospitals with data available for both the end of February 2013 and the end of February 2011. 1,925 patients were waiting longer than a year for an inpatient or day case procedure in these hospitals at the end of February 2011. 396 patients were waiting this length of time at the end of February 2013. This waiting list has been reduced by 79%. 4,992 patients were waiting longer than nine months for an inpatient or day case procedure in these hospitals at the end of February 2011. 2,136 patients were waiting this length of time at the end of February 2013. This waiting list has been reduced by 57%. 10,844 patients were waiting longer than six months for an inpatient or day case procedure in these hospitals at the end of February 2011. 8,649 were waiting this length of time at the end of February 2013. This waiting list has been reduced by 20%. Since the end of February 2011, waiting lists longer than a year for inpatient and day case procedures have been eliminated in 15 hospitals and waiting lists longer than 9 months for these procedures have been eliminated in 9 hospitals
I am determined that the progress made in 2012 be maintained and improved upon. For 2013, the target is that no adult should be waiting longer than 8 months for inpatient or daycase treatment. It is important to recognise that the progress made in 2012 does not mean the problem is solved, and 2013 will of course be extremely challenging. For example, winter pressures in Emergency Departments have impacted on scheduled care waiting times. However, in the coming months, as winter pressures ease, the SDU will work towards re-balancing scheduled care to maintain the improvements seen in 2012 and to achieve the new 2013 target.
Sligo Regional Hospital achieved the national adult waiting list targets of 9 months for inpatient and daycase surgery and 13 weeks for scopes by the end of December 2012. Whilst the seasonal challenges of winter have temporarily increased numbers, with 94 patients currently waiting over 9 months, the hospital continues to progress towards regaining compliance with the targets. .
