Figures published by the Southern Health Board (SHB) yesterday show that waiting lists throughout the Cork and Kerry region have been reduced, although significant delays in operations and treatment persist.
At Cork University Hospital, St Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital and Tralee General Hospital, the number on in-patient waiting lists was reduced from 2,204 in 1999 to 1,501 last year, a reduction of 32 per cent. Those waiting for hip replacements and other orthopaedic procedures at St Mary's Orthopaedic Hospital in Cork also got through the system more quickly last year.
The figure for 1999 was 622 patients on the waiting list, but last year this was reduced to 591, a 5 per cent reduction. The 1999 waiting list figures for ophthalmology, plastic surgery and urology were 989, but last year the figure dropped to 559, down 43 per cent.
At Tralee General Hospital, the number of patients waiting for general surgery, gynaecology and orthopaedic care in 1999 was 475 and this was reduced to 231 last year, a drop of 51 per cent.
The chief executive officer of the SHB, Mr Sean Hurley, said the reductions were a credit to the staff of the Southern Health Board, which would continue during the coming year to make further inroads in all its waiting lists.
He added: "While substantial progress has been made in recent years, we recognise that there is still much work to be done to ensure that the services we deliver meet the needs and expectations of consumers.
"When planning new developments, we need to ascertain the views of our consumers and must ensure that these developments are based on their changing needs."