Seán Haughey
Ceist:479 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures he is taking to reduce waiting lists in children's hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21542/01]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
The total number of children on public hospital waiting lists in the target specialties in June 2001, the latest date for which figures are available, was 2,857. This figure represents a decrease of 583 or 17% on the comparable figure for June 2000. Considerable progress has been made in reducing waiting lists and waiting times in target specialties for children. For example, between June 2000 and June 2001, the number of children waiting for cardiac surgery for more than six months decreased by 85%, the number waiting for ophthalmology services for more than six months decreased by 31%, and the number waiting for ENT services for more than 6 months decreased by 25%.
The overall target for waiting list initiative funding is to ensure that no adult waits longer than twelve months and no child waits longer than six months for treatment. It is my intention to pursue continual reductions in waiting lists and waiting times for hospital treatment.
The provision of services at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin and Temple Street Hospital is the responsibility of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and I have asked the chief executive officer of the authority to outline to the Deputy the proposals they have initiated to further reduce waiting lists and waiting times at these hospitals.
Seán Haughey
Ceist:480 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will consider giving all children a full cardiac check-up before they reach the age of seven; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21543/01]
There are no proposals at present to give all children under the age of seven a full cardiac check up. Universal cardiac check ups for children are not provided in other countries with similar patterns of heart disease to those in Ireland, International developments in knowledge of potentially serious cardiac conditions in children will be kept under review.
I should point out that the issue of child health was the subject of a report, Best Health for Children, initiated by the chief executive officers of the health boards. This report promotes an evidence based approach to child health with the primary aim of ensuring the early detection of potentially serious diseases, with a view to improving outcomes in the health of children and greater integration between primary, secondary and community care services. It also outlines a core programme for child health surveillance and recommends a total of nine developmental health checks to be carried out by GPs and public health nurses for children age seven and under. A national conjoint child health committee is currently overseeing the implementation of the recommendations. A sum of £800,000 – 1,015,790 – was allocated this year to allow the boards to commence the implementation of these recommendations. This funding has in the main been used to employ child health development officers who will drive the implementation process at local level and to start a number of dem onstration projects, for example, the piloting of a school health service project in the North
Western Health Board.