Vol. 550 No. 2
321 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people on waiting lists for ear, nose and throat, gynaecological, radiological, orthopaedic and surgical procedures in Tralee General Hospital on 31 December 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7955/02]
The numbers on waiting lists for in-patient treatments in the specialties of ENT, gynaecology, orthopaedics and general surgery at Tralee General Hospital at the dates specified, in the format collected by my Department, are being provided separately to the Deputy.
Data on radiological services is not routinely collected by my Department. Therefore, my Department has asked the chief executive officer at the Southern Health Board to look into this matter and reply directly to the Deputy.
The figures supplied to my Department by Tralee General Hospital show that considerable progress has been made in reducing the number of people waiting for in-patient services at the hospital in recent years. The number of people waiting for in-patient treatment at December 2001 was 106. This figure represents a decrease of 54% on the comparable figures for December 2000. The number of people waiting for general surgery has fallen by 96% during the same period.
