Vol. 507 No. 3
148 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients on the waiting list for cataract operations in the Western Health Board area; the number who are adults; the number who are children; the waiting period for operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16904/99]
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. The latest period for which information is available for the Western Health Board is in respect of the quarter ending on 31 March 1999. Information in relation to the average waiting period for this procedures is not readily available. I have asked the health board to forward this information directly to the Deputy.
Under the waiting list initiative I have allocated a total of £20 million of dedicated funding this year to enable hospitals to provide treatments to patients who would otherwise have been waiting for significantly longer periods. This represents an increase of two-thirds over the funding allocated for this purpose in 1998 and it is 2.5 times higher than the funding given by the previous Government in 1997.
In addition, I have allocated £9 million to services for older people and £2 million to accident and emergency services in 1999 in areas that will help to address the underlying causes of waiting lists. This funding will help to free up acute hospital beds for elective work, including treatment of those on public in-patient waiting lists. The Deputies will be aware that the review group on the waiting list initiative identified inappropriate use of acute hospital beds, due to such factors as the shortage of step-down places and facilities for rehabilitation, as a key source of substantial waiting lists and waiting times.
|
31 March1999 |
31 December1998 |
Reduction |
|
|
Number of patients on the Waiting List for cataract operations |
685 |
775 |
90 |
|
Number who are adults |
685 |
775 |
90 |
|
Number who are children |
0 |
0 |
0 |
