I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 37 and 160 together.
Over the last two or three decades there have been numerous important advances in surgical technology and in anaesthesia. These advances have improved greatly the range, the safety and the effectiveness of the surgical procedures that can be offered by modern health systems. However, as a consequence, there has been dramatic increases in the demand for surgical procedures, especially elective procedures.
Due to the nature of any health care system not all treatments can be made available to patients immediately. Hospital facilities must be used to best effect and it is sometimes necessary to place patients for non-urgent treatments on a waiting list. Therefore, the significant issue from the patients perspective is the length of time spent waiting for treatment and as such my Department's objective is to reduce waiting times significantly in the short-term with particular focus on those waiting longest for treatment.
This Government has maintained a particular focus on those waiting longest for hospital treatment. Despite pressures on the acute hospital system considerable progress has been made by health agencies in reducing waiting times for public patients.
My Department publishes comprehensive information in respect of both in-patient and day case waiting lists and waiting times by hospital and speciality.
The waiting list data for the period ended 31 March 2003 showed that there were significant reductions in the number of adults and children waiting longest for in-patient treatment. The total number of adults waiting more than 12 months for in-patient treatment in the nine target specialties has fallen by approximately 35% from 7,402 to 4,782 in the period June 2002 to March 2003. The total number of children waiting more than six months for in-patient treatment in the same specialties and for the same period has decreased by approximately 56% from 1,576 to 697.