A £2 BILLION capital investment in the health services over the next seven years will result in hospital waiting lists being cut to 12 months for adults and six months for children, the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Cowen, said yesterday.
This is the first time the health sector has been included in a national development plan and the trebling of capital investment envisaged by the plan would transform the health service, he declared.
The inclusion of health was political recognition that people who wanted better roads and transport also wanted improved social services, Mr Cowen said.
The purpose of the spending programme was to provide an efficient, modern health service.
Under the multi-annual spending programme planned, funding will be spread across the health service, with £1,398 million earmarked for the southern and eastern region of the State, and £602 million going to the Border, Midlands and Western region.
The new £150 million Mater/Temple Street hospital on the site of the Mater Hospital in Dublin will be one of the larger capital projects to be funded under the plan, and is due for completion in 2007.
Other general hospital projects include a £60 million extension to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown, £30 million for new radiology and maternity facilities at Cork University Hospital, and the completion of the second phases at Limerick Regional Hospital and Galway University Hospital.
Hospital funding will target surgical specialities facing lengthy waiting lists, such as orthopaedics, ENT and vascular surgery. Outdated and cramped facilities will be replaced.
The plan aims to improve facilities within the Border, midlands and western region to attain regional self-sufficiency. It will tackle inequities which have arisen due to lower population densities, higher dependency rates and a narrower range of acute services available.
Additional specialist services would be provided within regions, the Minister said.
Investment is being provided for additional day hospitals, daycare centres, new community nursing units and additional capacity in palliative care and hospices. Rehabilitation services will also be enhanced.
Bolstering the non-acute sector in this way would enable the health service to run more efficiently by freeing acute hospital beds, Mr Cowen said.
The plan also includes investment in information and communications technology to enhance further the efficiency of the service. A statistical data bank would be established to measure the throughput of hospitals.
There would be funding for tele-medicine, which would enable patients in remote locations to be assessed by medical specialists via computer links.
The plan includes investment in childcare, through the provision of high-support units, better residential accommodation, and facilities for young homeless people.
The report also contains provision for significantly increased respite care for the intellectually disabled, and the creation of six regional assessment centres for those with physical and sensory disabilities.
Investment will go towards providing modern accommodation for the mentally ill and physically disabled.
Dental services will be boosted by the establishment of a regional oral surgery and maxillo-facial unit in Dublin, the increased provision of orthodontic services, equipment for children's dental services and the replacement of plant and equipment for water fluoridation.
The following are the main features of the £2 billion health strategy:
£1,398 million (70 per cent) of funding will go to southern and eastern region, and £602 million (30 per cent) will be spent in the Border, midlands and western (BMW) region;
Improved access to hospital services in the BMW region;
Capital developments at hospitals will involve the provision of additional capacity in certain surgical specialities. The plan includes funding for the new £150 million Mater/Temple Street hospital in Dublin; a £60 million expansion to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown; second phases of Limerick Regional Hospital and Galway's University Hospital; and a £30 million investment in radiology and maternity facilities at Cork's University Hospital;
Services for older people will be boosted, with additional day hospitals, day-care centres, new community nursing units, and extra capacity in hospices;
Funding will be provided for accommodation for the mentally ill and physically disabled.