Hospital Waiting Lists.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 April 2008

Wednesday, 2 April 2008

Ceisteanna (301)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

358 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to overcome the crisis in relation to the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the waiting lists in Tallaght General Hospital; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are 2,337 patients over the three months waiting list at the hospital and that of this total, 403 are waiting for a period greater than twelve months; if there is another hospital within the Health Service Executive in a similar position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11801/08]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

Statutory responsibility for the collation, management and publication of data on waiting times and numbers of persons waiting for surgical procedures rests with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).

I am aware that a number of hospitals, including Tallaght, continue to have unacceptably long waiting times. The other hospitals concerned are Letterkenny General Hospital, the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore and Sligo General Hospital. However, I understand that the Health Service Executive and the NTPF are in close communication the hospitals concerned to lower their waiting times. I look forward to a higher level of co-operation by these hospitals in the future.