Seán Haughey
Ceist:506 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children the measures he is taking to tackle hospital waiting lists; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1327/02]
Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.
Dedicated funding is provided to health agencies under the waiting list initiative to enable hospitals carry out waiting list procedures. In 2002 funding of 43.81 million has been indicated to health agencies to enable them to pursue continual reductions in waiting lists and waiting times.
The total number of patients on public hospital in-patient waiting lists at 30 September 2001, as reported by health agencies, was 26,345, a drop of 11% on the comparative figure for 2000. The number of adults waiting for more than 12 months for treatment in target specialties has fallen by 17% and the number of children waiting for more than six months for treatment in target specialties has fallen by 8.5% in the same period.
The new health strategy, which I launched recently, will provide a framework for the reform of the acute hospital system and improved access for public patients. It includes a plan covering the actions required to address the issue of waiting lists and particularly waiting times. The targets set out in the strategy are that by the end of 2002 no adult will wait longer than 12 months and no child will wait longer than six months for treatment, by the end of 2003 no adult will wait longer than six months and no child will wait longer than three months for treatment and by the end of 2004 no public patients will wait longer than three months for treatment. A new dedicated treatment purchase fund will be used for the purpose of purchasing treatments for public patients. It will be a matter for those charged with the operation of the treatment purchase fund to identify the needs and to source appropriate procedures either in Ireland or, if necessary, from abroad.
The single most important limiting factor for admission to hospital is bed availability. In this context a comprehensive review of bed capacity needs has been conducted in both the acute and non-acute sectors. The review, which I launched recently, has focused primarily on the emerging need to increase bed capacity and to have a strategic framework in place in terms of the number of additional beds required in the short, medium and long-terms. I recently announced the commissioning of an additional 709 acute beds in public hospitals at a cost of 65 million. This is the first phase of the provision of an additional 3,000 beds over the period to 2011, as announced in the health strategy.
The strategy outlines further measures which are designed to address the issues of capacity and efficiency in the delivery of services. A strategic partnership will be developed with the private sector in providing services for public patients and a national hospital agency will be set up to plan the configuration of hospital services. I am confident that these measures will result in a more accessible and equitable acute hospital system for public patients.