Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 149: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children when publication of full hospital waiting lists will be resumed; the latest information available to the national treatment purchase fund in respect of the number of patients waiting more than three months, six months, 12 months and 24 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20855/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Responsibility for the collection and reporting of waiting lists and waiting times now falls within the remit of the national treatment purchase fund. My Department has asked the chief executive of the fund to respond to the Deputy regarding the latest information available to the fund in respect of the number of patients waiting for treatment.

A new, on-line, national patient treatment register is being developed by the fund which will allow for more accurate identification of waiting lists, and more importantly, waiting times. It is intended that the register will be implemented on a phased basis during 2005.

Up to the end of May 2005, some 30,000 patients have had treatment arranged for them. In most instances, anyone waiting more than three months will be facilitated by the fund.