Public patients are now waiting no more than two to four months on average for common surgical procedures, figures published today revealed.
The Patient Treatment Register (PTR) figures issued by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) show waiting times for children are two to five months on average.
The PTR is the online register for reporting in-patient and day-case hospital waiting times. It contains information from 36 hospitals throughout the country and replaces the old waiting list system which was believed to be widely inaccurate and unreliable.
Adult patients waiting for 19 of the 20 most common operations are now treated within two to four months, while children waiting for nine of the 10 most common operations receive their treatment within two to five months.
This compares with wait times of two to five years in 2002, the NTPF said.
In total there are 14,738 adult patients and 2,081 child patients waiting for surgery nationwide across the 36 hospitals, a statement said.
NTPF chief executive Pat O'Byrne
Of the adults, 5,618 are waiting three to six months for their operation, 4,618 are waiting six to 12 months and 4,502 are waiting longer than 12 months.
Of the 2,081 children currently awaiting a surgical procedure, a total of 879 are waiting between three and six months, 710 are waiting six to 12 months and 492 are waiting over 12 months.
According to the NTPF, more than half of the adults waiting longer than 12 months for a procedure are on waiting lists in just four hospitals - Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Letterkenny General Hospital, Sligo General Hospital and Tallaght Hospital.
Almost half of children waiting over 12 months are waiting in two hospitals - Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin and Temple Street Children's Hospital.
NTPF chief executive Pat O'Byrne said "While substantial progress has been made in reducing waiting times at most hospitals in recent years, as demonstrated by the reduction in wait times for the most common procedures, it is clear from these figures that there are still too many people waiting unacceptably and unnecessarily long for operations at certain hospitals.
"There is no need for any patient to be waiting longer than three months for their procedure and we will be working with the hospitals concerned to target those waiting longest and get them an offer of treatment."
NTPF chairman John O'Dwyer said the co-operation of public hospitals in the referral process remains "a key factor in ensuring that the fund can continue its important work of reducing waiting times and making a difference to patients".
"The PTR clearly shows that the hospitals which have engaged most with the NTPF have the shortest wait times and waiting lists for operations."
Since its establishment in 2002, the NTPF has arranged treatment for more than 75,000 public patients. It was set up by Minister for Health Mary Harney to tackle lengthy waiting lists for common procedures. Patients waiting more than three months for their operation can contact the NTPF directly and may qualify to have their treatment paid for at a private hospital in Ireland or abroad.
Some 27,500 patients will have their treatment arranged by the NTPF this year.
The NTPF has been criticised by some health commentators who claim that it is an expensive way for the Government to deal with waiting lists that could be tackled through other reforms in the health service.