§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are on the waiting list for neurosurgery in Northern Ireland; how many were on the waiting list on(a) 16 July 2002 and (b) 16 July 1998; what assessment he has made for the length of such waiting lists; and if he will make a statement. [127053]
§ Angela SmithThe number of people waiting for inpatient admission to the neurosurgery specialty is returned to the Department on a quarterly basis by Trusts. The return provides information about the number of people waiting for in-patient admission on the last day of each quarter. The information in this answer relates to the position at 31 March 2003 (the most recent information available),(a) 30 June 2002 and (b) 30 June 1998.
At 31 March 2003 there were 700 people waiting for in-patient admission to the neurosurgery specialty.
- (a) There were 850 people waiting for in-patient admission to the neurosurgery specialty on 30 June 2002.
- (b) There were 425 people waiting for in-patient admission to the neurosurgery specialty on 30 June 1998.
The Royal Group of Hospitals, in liaison with the four Boards, has been working hard to improve the situation, both in the short-term and with regard to the longer-term development of the service. In particular:
472WA task force was established by the Royal to lead the effort in addressing the problems faced by the service;Extra theatre lists have been introduced;Proposals to enhance the recruitment and retention of nurses have been implemented to restore nursing levels and allow the phased opening of beds, with all beds re-opening by January 2004;A clinical careers framework for nurses has also been launched to improve opportunities for personal development and career pathways;In addition, treatment has been provided for some suitable patients in units outside Northern Ireland.These measures should make a significant contribution to reducing the number of people waiting for in-patient admission to neurosurgery.
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are on the waiting list for(a) orthopaedic and (b) cardiological procedures in Northern Ireland; and how many were on the waiting list on (i) 16 July 2002 and (ii) 16 July 1998. [127054]
§ Angela SmithThe number of people waiting for in-patient admission by specialty is returned to the Department on a quarterly basis by Trusts. The return provides information about the number of people waiting for in-patient admission on the last day of each quarter. Information in this answer is provided for the Trauma and Orthopaedic, Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology specialties. The information in this answer relates to the position at 31 March 2003 (the most recent information available),(a) 30 June 2002 and (b) 30 June 1998. The following table shows the number of people waiting for in-patient admission to the Trauma and Orthopaedic, Cardiac Surgery and cardiology specialties on the 31 March 2003.
Specialty Number of people waiting Trauma and Orthopaedics 5,528 Cardiac Surgery 436 Cardiology 1,345 (a) The following table shows the number of people waiting for in-patient admission to the Trauma and Orthopaedic, Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology specialties on the 30 June 2002.
Specialty Number of people waiting Trauma and Orthopaedics 6,064 Cardiac Surgery 644 Cardiology 1,339 (b) The following table shows the number of people waiting for in-patient admission to the Trauma and Orthopaedic, Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology specialties on 30 June 1998.
Specialty Number of people waiting Trauma and Orthopaedics 4,939 Cardiac Surgery 463 Cardiology 1,026
§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to reduce waiting lists for(a) orthopaedic and (b) cardiological surgical procedures in Northern Ireland. [127055]
§ Angela SmithWithin the orthopaedic surgery specialty a number of steps have been taken to address waiting times. These steps include
An increase in the number of trainees in the orthopaedic specialty.The establishment of a pilot initiative involving orthopaedic surgeons, general practitioners and physiotherapists, aimed at treating people in the community, and reducing the need for consultant appointments and subsequent surgery.473WThe undertaking of a review of acute trauma services, which is expected to make recommendations for improvement on the delivery of trauma services and will provide strategic direction on the future development of the orthopaedic/fracture service.In addition, waiting times for orthopaedic surgery will be further addressed by the planned increase in theatre capacity this year. The Regional Spinal Surgery Unit is expected to be fully operational by September 2003, and two new modular operating theatres are currently under construction at the Musgrave Park Hospital site. The provision of these new theatres will increase theatre capacity, increase capacity for fracture services, stabilise and reduce waiting lists, and facilitate the mix of elective, trauma and outpatient work of consultant orthopaedic surgeons.To reduce waiting times for cardiac surgery, my Department has developed a joint action plan for the implementation of the recommendations made by the Cardiac Surgery review and the Review of Cardiology Services. In line with the Joint Action Plan, my Department is continuing to invest in additional staff and equipment at the regional cardiac surgery unit in the Royal Hospitals. This investment will facilitate an increase in the number of cardiac surgery procedures undertaken at the regional unit to the target level of 1,100 per year. Until capacity at the Royal is increased to the target level, additional cardiac surgery procedures are being purchased outside the HPSS for patients who are able and willing to travel.