18/05/2009

Waiting Time For Operations Falls To Lowest Level

The Department of Health has announced that the average patient waiting time for surgical procedures at the moment is at its lowest level ever.

The figures are published today in the 2008 Annual Report of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), and is used to arrange faster treatment for public patients.

It reports that the average waiting time for operations has dropped to under three months. It shows a 17% reduction compared to the same period last year. But NTPF's Chief Executive, Pat O'Byrne, has warned that it is likely to increase this year.

According to O'Byrne the cut in the fund's budget for 2009 could involve an increase of the average waiting time by a couple of weeks.

Around 30,000 patients will be treated this year, but Mr O'Byrne considers it would be impossible to treat the same number of people as was the case in 2008.

Around 18% of the patients waiting the longest for an operation are on a list in the Children's University Hospital Temple Street, as it has been found by the report.

Alos, 12% are on the list in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin.

The Irish Republic's Minister for Health, Mary Harney, said the average waiting time stands now at 2.6 months.

Nevertheless, at present more than 1,100 Irish patients are waiting over a year for their surgery.

See: Long Waiting Times In Irish Hospitals

(AC/BMcC)

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