Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Feb 1993

Vol. 426 No. 5

Written Answers. - Speciality Waiting List.

Peter Barry

Ceist:

301 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied) in the Cork Examiner on 2 February 1993 referring to children and some adults suffering from orthopaedic complaints having to wait up to four years for clinic appointments in the Southern Health Boards; if so, if he has investigated this and the reports of ever increasing waiting periods; if he will make funds available to bring about an improvement in this very unsatisfactory situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

I would like to explain that the provision of an out-patient appointment is a clinical decision for the consultant concerned. Priority is given to urgent cases. If a patient's condition is causing concern it would be a matter for his or her general practitioner to contact the consultant concerned with a view to obtaining an earlier appointment-date.

I am aware, however, that delays have arisen for some orthopaedic patients in Cork. The Deputy will be interested to learn that approval was given to the Southern Health Board last year to provide for new clean air theatre facilities at St. Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital, Gurranebraher. A project team has been established and the planning process is under way. I am confident that this development will improve services for orthopaedic patients in Cork.

One of the health priorities of this Government is to tackle waiting lists. In this context, £20 million will be provided in 1993 for a major action programme to reduce waiting lists, including orthopaedic waiting lists. I am hopeful that this initiative will play an important part in alleviating problems which have arisen for patients in Cork and elsewhere.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

302 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health the progress, if any, which has been made in respect of the waiting lists details by speciality on 31st January, 1991 during the year, to the end of 1992.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

303 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if in respect of the waiting list by speciality at the 31st December, 1991, he will give details of the numbers on those lists who had been waiting under three months, from three months to a year, over one year, over two years and over three years.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 302 and 303 together.

The data in relation to length of time on waiting lists is only collected in respect of the six specialties where there are lengthy waiting times—orthopaedics, ENT, opthalmology, vascular surgery, plastic surgery and cardiac surgery. The information requested by the Deputy in respect of these six specialties, as at 31 December 1991, is as follows:

Specialty	Waiting Time
3 months—12 months	Over 12 months
Orthopaedics—hips and other joints	1,279	792
other elective	3,113	1,297
ENT	3,755	1,349
Ophthalmology	2,516	1,253
Vascular Surgery	895	1,138
Plastic Surgery	801	1,232
Cardiac Surgery	519	611

Patients who have an admission date within 3 months are not included on waiting lists and data in respect of such patients is not collected. The waiting list data for these specialities for the period to December 1992 is being collected at present.

As the Deputy is aware, the Government has allocated £20 million for a major action programme to reduce waiting times in the areas of orthopaedic surgery, hip replacement and other procedures, ophthalmology, cataract, ear, nose and throat surgery, cardiac surgery by-pass operations, vascular surgery, varicose veins and plastic surgery. The Government objective is to eliminate waiting lists in excess of 12 months in these specialties, and to set a maximum period of 6 months for children awaiting ENT or eye treatment.