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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 6 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

416 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children on the ophthalmology waiting list in the Children's Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin 1; the waiting time involved; the number of ophthalmists available; if his Department can assist in measures to reduce the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26492/01]

The number of children waiting for ophthalmology services as in-patients in the Children's Hospital, Temple Street, as at 30 June 2001, the latest date for which figures are available, was 61. Of these children, 29 were waiting three to six months for treatment and 32 were waiting over six months for treatment.

There are currently two consultant ophthalmologists working in the Children's Hospital, Temple Street and there is also a locum ophthalmologist providing six sessions per week there.

Any proposal to develop services at the Children's Hospital is a matter for consideration by the Eastern Regional Health Authority, in the first instance, and my Department has asked the chief executive officer of the authority to outline to the Deputy the initiatives taken to further reduce waiting lists and waiting times at this hospital.

The total number of children on public hospital waiting lists in the target specialties in June 2001 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 six months decreased by 25%.
The overall target for waiting list initiative funding is to ensure that no adult waits longer than 12 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.
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