Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

It is important to put in context the provision of acute hospital services. There have been many important advances in surgical technology, including less invasive surgical methods and advances in anaesthetics. These advances have allowed the range, safety and effectiveness of surgical procedures to be enhanced to a greater extent. However, innovations and technological advances have led to increases in the demand for surgical procedures, especially elective procedures.

Activity in our acute hospitals continues to increase. The number of patients discharged from hospital having been treated as either inpatient or day cases in 2003 was more than 1 million. This is the first time the number has exceeded 1 million. This represents a 5% increase over 2002 and an almost 30% increase in the number of patients treated compared to 1997. The increase in acute hospital activity is a direct result of the Government's investment in capacity and staffing.

The Government's aim is to clearly focus on reducing waiting times for public patients who require admission to hospital for elective treatment. The national treatment purchase fund was established to help to achieve this aim. The fund's task is to achieve reductions in waiting times and, particularly, to offer treatment to those who have been waiting longest. The NTPF was set up on a statutory basis on 18 May 2004 and has made significant progress in the meantime. The fund has undertaken validation of those waiting longest for treatment and has taken account of factors such as patients not available for treatment, patients not medically suitable to undergo treatment, patients no longer requiring treatment and patients postponing treatment at their own request.

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