Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Seymour Crawford

Ceist:

188 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the serious waiting list problem in the North Eastern Health Board; if so, if he will provide the additional funds necessary to bring this area down to at least the national average and, if necessary, use facilities in Northern Ireland to alleviate pain and suffering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25679/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The total number of persons on in-patient waiting lists in the North Eastern Health Board area has remained almost unchanged since March of this year, at an average of 2,200. Waiting lists in the region fell slightly in the third quarter of the year, from 2,282 on 30 June to 2,108 on 30 September. However, they rose somewhat in October to 2,256 following the nurses' dispute. The October figure was still lower than the numbers waiting on 30 June.

I am committed to assisting agencies in addressing waiting lists and waiting times in a structured and co-ordinated manner. To this end I have been providing additional funding each year for waiting list procedures, and I have supported the implementation of the recommendations of the review group on the waiting list initiative. I have increased waiting list funding from the £8 million allocated by the previous Government in 1997 to £12 million in 1998 and to £20 million in 1999. I have indicated recently that funding under the waiting list initiative will be increased again in 2000.