Bernard Allen
Ceist:226 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the average waiting period for vascular surgery in all health board areas. [24413/99]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
As the Deputy will be aware, public in-patient waiting list statistics are collected by hospitals and furnished to my Department on a quarterly basis. At the end of September 1999, the most recent period for which detailed information is available, there was a total of 1,734 people awaiting vascular surgery over 12 months and 858 waiting for three to 12 months. The breakdown for people awaiting vascular surgery in all health board areas is set out as follows:
|
Health Board |
Waiting 3-12Months |
Waiting over 12 Months |
|
Eastern |
497 |
960 |
|
Midland |
14 |
45 |
|
North-East |
44 |
100 |
|
North-West |
57 |
70 |
|
South-East |
35 |
111 |
|
Southern |
166 |
289 |
|
Western |
39 |
130 |
|
Mid-Western |
6 |
29 |
Since coming into office, I have taken an integrated approach to the problem of waiting lists. As the Deputy will be aware, I commissioned a review of the waiting list initiative. I am now implementing a series of measures aimed at tackling the root causes of waiting lists. I allocated £20 million this year to agencies specifically to undertake waiting list work, with £3 million of this funding being allocated to the agencies which achieved the greatest improvements in their waiting lists in the first quarter of the year. This was in line with the recommendations of the review group report. I am confident that the measures I have taken in tackling waiting lists represents the best way of addressing the underlying causes of waiting lists and long waiting times.
Waiting lists declined by 9 per cent in the first three quarters of this year. This was a significant improvement and demonstrated the progress made as a result of the integrated approach that I have taken in line with the review group's report. Waiting lists rose in October following the nurses' dispute, but I am committed to ensuring that any backlog is cleared as soon as possible.