David Stanton
Ceist:55 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people awaiting hip operations in the Southern Health Board region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28955/00]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
The number of people at present waiting for hip operations in the Southern Health Board region is 100.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the overall numbers on waiting lists on 30 September 2000 fell by 7,198, which is a reduction of 19.5% on the end of the December 1999 quarter. This welcome reduction is a reflection of the major priority that is being attached to addressing high waiting lists.
It is my intention to pursue continual reductions in waiting lists and waiting times for hospital treatment. Dedicated funding for waiting list procedures of £34 million was allocated this year to health agencies and £34.5 million has been indicated to health agencies under the waiting list initiative for 2001.
This investment is being made in conjunction with longer term measures associated with the £2 billion investment under the national development plan, the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the expert review group on the waiting list initiative, the national bed capacity review and the winter initiative which I recently announced. In this regard, I was pleased to announce an investment package of £25 million to address a number of key service issues in the acute and non-acute sectors. The investment is being targeted at a number of areas, including the provision of additional step down facilities for patients who have completed the acute phase of their treatment. Many of these patients are older people and require a further level of care in a more appropriate environment. Under the winter initiative, at least 500 additional nursing home places will be contracted from private nursing homes. I am satisfied that this element of the initiative will increase the capacity of the acute hospital sector to address the problem of inappropriate use of hospital beds and will enhance the level of step down care available.
It is my intention to continue to take all available steps to address the short and longer term issues associated with lengthy waiting lists.