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.