Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:
43
Mr. J. O'Keeffe
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of persons on hospital waiting lists when he was appointed; the number of persons currently on hospital waiting lists; and the reason for these waiting list numbers in view of the resources available.
[18228/99]
On 30 June, 1997 there were 30,453 persons on waiting lists for in-patient hospital treatments. The corresponding figure on 30 June, 1999 was 33,924.
Waiting lists have however fallen by almost 3,000 or by 8 per cent, since the beginning of this year, due primarily to the structured, planned and integrated approach which I have taken to address the question of unduly long waiting times and waiting lists.
The performance of the waiting list initiative in the latter half of 1997 was heavily influenced by the funding allocated by the previous Government. As only £8 million had been allocated for 1997 before I took office, waiting lists increased to over 32,200 by the end of that year. I increased the funding for waiting list procedures to £12 million in 1998 and to £20 million in 1999, an increase of some 150 per cent over the 1997 allocation given by the previous Government.
The reasons for waiting lists are many, including the ever-increasing demand for health care; the tendency for new cases to be added to lists as soon as a significant number of patients have been treated; and a range of underlying causes such as questions of capacity, staffing, equipment, management of hospital facilities, and availability of step-down care.
Since taking office I have adopted a co-ordinated approach to addressing both waiting lists and waiting times. This has involved establishing the first ever formal review of the waiting list initiative and, since receiving its report, implementing its recommendations systematically; progressively increasing the dedicated funding available directly for waiting list procedures – from £8 million in 1997 to £20 million in 1999; and allocating funding to related areas to help free up acute hospital beds for elective work. In 1999 I allocated an extra £9 million to services for older people and £2 million to accident and emergency services in areas that will help reduce the pressure on acute hospital facilities.
As a result of this approach, waiting lists have begun to fall since the beginning of the year. The reduction in June represented the first time that waiting list figures have declined in two successive quarters since the end of December, 1996. There are no simple solutions to the issue of waiting lists; they are a feature of health systems throughout the world. While the gains to date have been modest, I am satisfied that the integrated approach I am taking will pay dividends. I will not be diverted from my approach by sensationalist or simplistic claims about waiting lists; the policy I have set out has received broad support from health agencies and I am determined to pursue it to ensure the best long-term benefit for patients.
