Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are currently waiting for cardiac operations at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast; what is the average waiting time; and what proposals there are to reduce the waiting time for such operations.
Mr. HankyThere were 991 people waiting for cardiac operations at the Royal Victoria hospital, Belfast at the end of September 1991 and I have set out below the details of how long they have been doing so. The recent completion of the £1.5 million extension to the cardiac recovery area at the RVH will permit an increase in the number of operations and an additional cardiac surgeon and supporting staff will be appointed soon to support this increased workload. Boards are also actively considering the possibilities of purchasing further operations from outside Northern Ireland. The Western board has already taken an initiative this year in buying additional cardiac operations for its resident population from hospitals in London.
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 Senior Management 12 12 16 16 31 31 (12) (12) (16) (16) (31) (31) Middle Management 190 191 196 185 255 244 (182.5) (184.58) (180.57) (177.03) (246.81) (234.09) Medical 10 13 14 11 13 13 (5) (6.7) (7.7) (4.7) (6.7) (6.7) Nursing 182 174 193 206 689 679 (152.53) (166.12) (177.15) (177.19) (614.45) (605.36) Social Workers 94 94 113 105 106 106 (85.96) (86.52) (104.12) (96.12) (97.12) (97.12) Social Work Assistants 58 52 54 50 50 50 (55.81) (51.33) (51.95) (47.95) (47.95) (47.95) Support Staff 457 422 470 397 649 645 (335.89) (324.9) (358) (304.85) (506.79) (505.08) Notes:
1. Whole time equivalent figures are shown in brackets.
2. The figures show the number of staff in post at 30 September of each year.
3. Figures for 1990 and 1991 include staff in Muckamore Abbey hospital which prior to 1 April 1990 was a separate unit of management.
4. Medical figures do not include registrars, senior registrars and consultants who are not on the unit payroll.