03/06/2004
Hospital waiting lists shorten further
Hospital waiting lists have fallen to their lowest level since March 2000, the Department of Health has revealed.
Waiting lists have fallen to 49,975 – a reduction of 5,602 compared to the same time last year - and 10,215 compared to the peak in September 2002.
The majority of patients on waiting lists (95%) between December 2003 and March 2004 had been waiting for less than 12 months while 75% had been waiting less than three months.
Welcoming today's news, Health Minister, Angela Smith said: “I am delighted that waiting lists have fallen below 50,000 for the first time in four years, with 5,600 fewer people waiting for inpatient or daycase treatment than at the same time last year.
"I am particularly pleased that the number of people who have been waiting more than 18 months has fallen by nearly half during the past year.
“These figures demonstrate that the steps we are taking to reduce waiting lists through investment in more doctors and nurses and in additional hospital beds are having a real impact."
The Minister said the reduction in waiting lists had been achieved at time when local hospitals were busier than ever.
"In the last quarter, over 1,500 more medical emergencies were admitted to hospital compared to the same period in the previous year," she said.
Concluding, the Minister also emphasised the need to build on the progress achieved to date and reduce still further the length of time people wait for their treatment: “Today’s figures are another very welcome step in the right direction but I am fully committed to delivering further improvements.
"I have set targets for the year ahead which will ensure that no patient has to wait more than 18 months for treatment by March 2005, and no more than 15 months by March 2006."
(MB)
Waiting lists have fallen to 49,975 – a reduction of 5,602 compared to the same time last year - and 10,215 compared to the peak in September 2002.
The majority of patients on waiting lists (95%) between December 2003 and March 2004 had been waiting for less than 12 months while 75% had been waiting less than three months.
Welcoming today's news, Health Minister, Angela Smith said: “I am delighted that waiting lists have fallen below 50,000 for the first time in four years, with 5,600 fewer people waiting for inpatient or daycase treatment than at the same time last year.
"I am particularly pleased that the number of people who have been waiting more than 18 months has fallen by nearly half during the past year.
“These figures demonstrate that the steps we are taking to reduce waiting lists through investment in more doctors and nurses and in additional hospital beds are having a real impact."
The Minister said the reduction in waiting lists had been achieved at time when local hospitals were busier than ever.
"In the last quarter, over 1,500 more medical emergencies were admitted to hospital compared to the same period in the previous year," she said.
Concluding, the Minister also emphasised the need to build on the progress achieved to date and reduce still further the length of time people wait for their treatment: “Today’s figures are another very welcome step in the right direction but I am fully committed to delivering further improvements.
"I have set targets for the year ahead which will ensure that no patient has to wait more than 18 months for treatment by March 2005, and no more than 15 months by March 2006."
(MB)
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