Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Those figures include both medical and surgical areas. Across the entire public hospital system that is a total of 21,403. The breakdown in regard to adults is 8,026 waiting three to six months, 6,046 waiting six to 12 months, and 5,011 waiting longer than 12 months. In the case of children the breakdown is 1,020 waiting three to six months, 784 waiting six to 12 months and 516 waiting longer than 12 months. I do not accept that 12 months is acceptable. Traditionally patients waiting for less than three months have not been included in waiting list statistics, but since the National Treatment Purchase Fund took over, it collects that information. It has confirmed that at the end of September the number of adults waiting for less than three months was 16,000.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund consistently highlights its concern that some patients are still waiting too long for treatment. They are offering the service in many cases but the hospitals will not use it.

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