Page 4526 - Week 12 - Thursday, 26 October 2017

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Health—waiting times
(Question No 524)

Mrs Dunne asked the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, upon notice, on 25 August 2017:

(1) Further to the answer to part (1) of question on notice 339, how many patients were on the wait list in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit as at (a) 30 June 2016, (b) 31 December 2016 and (c) 30 June 2017.

(2) For each of the dates listed in part (1), what was the average wait time for patients on the wait lists.

(3) What is the clinically-acceptable wait time for patients requiring gastroenterology and hepatology treatment.

(4) How many visiting medical officer anesthetists were engaged to assist in reducing the wait list in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit.

(5) For how long were they engaged.

(6) To what extent did their engagement reduce wait lists.

Ms Fitzharris: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

1. The number of patients who were ready for care on the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit (GEHU) waiting list as at:

30-Jun-16

31-Dec-16

30-Jun-17

3,857

3,988

3,786

2. The average waiting time for patients on the wait list as at:

30-Jun-16

31-Dec-16

30-Jun-17

259 days

321 days

376 days

3. All referrals for GEHU are triaged according to individual circumstances against clinical guidelines into three categories. These are:

Category 1 – for treatment within 30 days

Category 2 – for treatment within 90 days

Category 3 – for treatment within 365 days

4. Two full time equivalent VMO anaesthetists were engaged to do weekend lists, to assist in reducing the wait list in the GEHU.

5. Four months.

6. During the four months, an additional 160 patients had their endoscopic procedures completed.


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