Brendan Howlin
Ceist:96 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health the number of people on the waiting list in each health board area for hip replacements and other orthopaedic procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Hip Replacements.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
Health Board |
Hip Replacement Waiting List (July 1990) (Approximately) |
Other Elective Procedures Waiting Lists at Elective Centres (30 April 1990) (Approximately) |
|
Eastern |
840 (approx.) |
2,700 |
|
Midland |
40 |
120 |
|
Mid-Western |
140 |
450 |
|
North-Eastern |
140 |
210 |
|
North-Western |
120 |
130 |
|
South-Eastern |
240 |
790 |
|
Southern |
290 |
460 |
|
Western |
130 |
170 |
Information regarding orthopaedic waiting lists is collected on a hospital basis. It is possible that a patient resident in one health board area would be on a waiting list for orthopaedic treatment in another health board area.
Priority in elective orthopaedics is being given to increasing the throughput of hip replacement operations. As a result of the special measures taken last year, the output for this procedure increased in 1989 from the projected target of 1,900 to 2,200, an increase of over 15 per cent. The throughput of 2,200 for 1989 can be compared favourably to the throughput of 1,600 in the early eighties. It is hoped to reach a target of about 2,700 hip replacements this year. With regard to elective orthopaedics generally, it is projected that activity will be increased by nearly 22 per cent in 1990 over 1989 levels.