Vol. 512 No. 7
43 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients who had their outpatient appointments cancelled as a result of the nurses' strike; the efforts, if any, he has made to deal with the backlog; the number waiting for an outpatient appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27058/99]
The information requested by the Deputy is not routinely collected by my Department and is not readily available at this time. I have asked each health agency to forward this information directly to the Deputy.
Following the conclusion of the nurses' dispute, my Department has been working with health agencies to ensure that services to patients return to normal as soon as possible. This includes measures to address any backlogs emerging as a result of the industrial action. A meeting was held with the management of the health boards and voluntary hospitals to emphasise the importance to each agency of maintaining the downward trend in waiting list figures and to establish how they propose to achieve their service plan-waiting list targets.
I am determined to ensure that services to patients are delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible and that all agencies work intensively to achieve normal services following the recent industrial action.
44 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health and Children if more resources are necessary to make an appreciable reduction in hospital waiting lists in 2000; if not, the cause of the problem; and the steps, if any, he proposes to deal with it. [26691/99]
56 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children by speciality and hospital on waiting lists; the number waiting for longer than six months; the way in which he will tackle waiting lists for children; the target maximum waiting time; and the way in which he will achieve this. [27154/99]
61 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients on hospital waiting lists for surgery or other specialised treatment; the number by which these waiting lists will be reduced in 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27135/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 56 and 61 together.
Detailed waiting list data are collected on a quarterly basis from health agencies. Waiting lists for in-patient procedures at the 30 September 1999, the latest date for which detailed figures are available, stood at 33,555. I am arranging to have the detailed waiting list information circulated to the Deputy.
