Michael Ferris
Ceist:28 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself that the waiting lists for cardiac surgery are accurate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19838/97]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:36 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the degree to which he will reduce waiting lists in relation to hip replacement operations within the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19886/97]
Alan Shatter
Ceist:111 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the numbers currently on hospital surgical waiting lists in each health board area; the nature of the surgery required in these cases; and the steps, if any, he will take to reduce the waiting lists. [19945/97]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:129 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children currently awaiting ear, nose and throat treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20004/97]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:130 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of patients currently awaiting hip operations in this country; the number of operations taking place on a daily basis in this regard; the number of hospitals offering this surgery; when the numbers on waiting lists will be reduced to realistic numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20005/97]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:132 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children whether patients on waiting lists for long periods in public hospitals are being offered early treatment privately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20007/97]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:133 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons currently on the waiting list for eye surgery; the length of time these patients are on the list; the plans, if any, his Department has for early attention in their cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20008/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 36, 111, 129, 130, 132 and 133 together.
The total number of persons awaiting treatment under the specialty of general surgery on 30 June 1997 was 2,995. The number awaiting ophthalmic surgery on the same date was 2,486 and the numbers awaiting hip replacements amounted to 1,299. Hip replacements are available from all hospitals that provide orthopaedic surgery as a major specialty. In 1996 there were 3,971 hip operations in Irish hospitals, or an average of 11 such operations per day. The number of children awaiting ENT procedures on 30 June 1997 was 2,821. I am circulating the more detailed information requested by Deputies on these statistics in a set of tables.
Patients on public waiting lists are of course entitled to avail themselves of private treatment. I have no information on whether those waiting for lengthy periods on public waiting lists are being offered early private treatment. However, the incentive for public patients to opt for private treatment could be expected to decline as public waiting times are reduced. I am committed to taking all possible steps to reduce waiting lists and waiting times for patients. In 1997 the Government allocated £8 million towards the cost of waiting list work and I am confident that this money will have a positive impact on waiting lists by the end of the year.
I will shortly be notifying health boards and hospitals of revised arrangements for implementing the waiting list initiative in 1998. Among the primary steps to be taken for 1998 are: health agencies will be required to replace a waiting list plan specifying their targets for the year; agencies will be notified of their waiting list funding at a much earlier stage of the year than previously, provided they have submitted a satisfactory waiting list plan; agencies will be asked to designate an individual to act as a co-ordinator of waiting list work, if they have not already done so; the importance of validating waiting lists, including those in cardiac surgery, will be emphasised to ensure that we have an accurate and up-to-date picture of the situation; and there will be a continuing focus on waiting list times as well as on waiting lists, with the objective of ensuring that children do not have to wait more than six months and adults no longer than 12 months in the specialties targeted for attention. As part of the revised arrangements for 1998 I will shortly commission an independent evaluation of the waiting list initiative to examine how it has performed and to identify other possible areas of development.
1. Waiting Lists in General Surgery by Health Board, as on 30 June 1997
|
Name of Agency |
Numbers waiting |
|
Eastern Health Board |
900 |
|
Midland Health Board |
156 |
|
Mid-Western Health Board |
309 |
|
North-Eastern Health Board |
327 |
|
North-Western Health Board |
191 |
|
South-Eastern Health Board |
564 |
|
Southern Health Board |
273 |
|
Western Health Board |
275 |
|
Total |
2,995 |
2. Ophthalmic Surgery: Waiting Times as on 30 June 1997
|
3-6 Months |
3-12 Months |
Over 6 Months |
Over 12 Months |
|
|
Adults |
N.A. |
1,492 |
N.A. |
756 |
|
Children |
122 |
N.A. |
116 |
N.A. |
|
Totals |
122 |
1,492 |
116 |
756 |
3. Hip Replacements: Waiting List Data and Operations Performed
|
Number of persons awaiting hip replacements on 30 June 1997: 1,299 |
|
|
Number of hip operations performed in 1996:— |
|
|
— Total hip replacements |
2,562 |
|
— Partial hip replacements |
1,115 |
|
— Revised hip replacements |
294 |
|
Total |
3,971 |
Average number of hip operations performed per day in 1996: 10.9
4. ENT Procedures: Number of Children on Waiting List on 30 June 1997
|
Grommets |
350 |
|
Tonsils/Adenoids |
2,132 |
|
Other ENT procedures |
339 |
|
Total |
2,821 |