Three out of every four children on hospital waiting lists have been awaiting treatment for six months or more, according to new official figures. Among adults, 43 per cent have been on the waiting lists for a year or more, according to the figures released by the Department of Health and Children.
Last week, the Minister, Mr Martin, issued statistics showing that the number of people on waiting lists had fallen by 8,998 to 27,857 in the year to the end of December. Yesterday's figures show how long they have been waiting.
They reveal that while there have been some dramatic improvements, the proportion of people who have spent a long time on waiting lists has remained relatively steady. This suggests that doctors have used the funding provided through the waiting list initiatives to benefit those most in need rather than those who have been longest on the list.
They also reveal that most children spend a relatively long time - six months or more - on waiting lists for treatment and this proportion has not changed in the past year.
The biggest improvements have been in the area of cardiac surgery for adults and children. The number of adults waiting for a year or more fell from 816 (73 per cent) in 1999 to 270 (54 per cent) in 2000. For children the maximum waiting times are for six months or more. In orthopaedics, substantial improvements were made in the number of adults awaiting treatment. However, the number waiting for total hip replacements for a year or more rose from 551 in December 1999 to 723 in December 2000.
The situation of children needing orthopaedic treatment appears to have worsened. For instance, 86 were waiting for six months or more at the end of December compared to 64 in December 1999.
The overall figures show that the number of adults on waiting lists for a year or more fell from 14,833 to 10,337 in the period. The number of children on waiting lists for six months or more fell from 2,719 to 2,146.
pomorain@irish-times.ie