Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

195 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people removed from the hospital waiting list figures issued in September 2000 by virtue of having received the treatment they were waiting for and the numbers removed for other reasons in respect of the 5,000 taken off waiting lists since the beginning of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24549/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The information requested is not available in the format requested by the Deputy. The quarterly figures in relation to in-patient hospital waiting lists published by my Department reflect the actual number of persons on in-patient hospital waiting lists at a particular time. These figures are submitted by health agencies to my Department on a quarterly basis.

The welcome reductions in the numbers of persons on in-patient hospital waiting lists that have occurred since the beginning of this year reflect a variety of reasons. These reductions are due to persons being removed from waiting lists due to on-going validation exercises by health agencies, as recommended in the report of the review group on waiting lists, removal from in-patient waiting lists due to medical or other circumstances and the impact of procedures funded under the waiting list initiative.

Question No. 196 taken with Question No. 118.

Question No. 197 taken with Question No. 108.