Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 April 2004
159 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the length of time a person has to wait in respect of heart surgery, hip replacement and cataract removal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11079/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra162 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which waiting lists in respect of cataract removal have increased or decreased in the past 12 months. [11082/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 162 together.
The total number of people reported to be on public hospital in-patient waiting lists for cardiac surgery as at 30 September 2003, the latest date for which figures are available, was 228. This includes 78 adults waiting over 12 months for cardiac surgery.
The total number of adults reported to be waiting for orthopaedic procedures, either as an in-patient or as a day case was 3,023. The total number of adults waiting more than 12 months for in-patient treatment in the specialty of orthopaedics was 794, which represents a decrease of 42% between September 2002 and September 2003.
The total number of adults reported to be waiting for ophthalmology procedures, either as an in-patient or as a day case was 3,656. The total number of adults waiting more than 12 months for in-patient treatment in the specialty of ophthalmology was 448, which represents a decrease of 16% between September 2002 and September 2003.
The national treatment purchase fund has been successful in locating additional capacity and arranging treatments for approximately 12,000 patients to date. It is now the case that, in most instances, adults waiting more than six months for an operation and children waiting more than three months will now be facilitated by the fund. The fund has reported that patients willing to be treated outside of their local area can have their treatment arranged more quickly.
