PAC CALLS FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO USE OF OPERATING THEATRES

The NI Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has, today, published its report on the Use of Operating Theatres. This report follows up the Memorandum of Response1 to the Westminster Committee of Public Accounts’ Report on The Use of Operating Theatres2.

Committee Chairperson John O’Dowd, MLA said:

“The Committee recognises and welcomes the significant improvement in waiting lists and waiting times3, which have been brought about by a range of measures, including robust monitoring and performance management arrangements and the introduction of sanctions for poor performance.

“Despite this step up in performance, the Committee considers that there is potential for further improvement as planned theatre sessions still only account for 64% of actual theatre capacity. It has therefore called on the Department and providers to re-examine the resources applied in carrying out surgical procedures to ensure that waiting lists and access times continue to fall and that they are kept at a low level.

“The Committee commended the Department for considering alternative ways of addressing its very high waiting lists, for example, in its use of providers from the independent sector in clearing backlogs in waiting lists4.

“The Committee expects the Department to put more pressure on Trusts to minimise the number of cancelled operations. It accepts that many cancellations are unavoidable, but as a direct result, £6.4 million of resources were wasted or not used to best effect in 2005-06 alone.

“Despite previous undertakings to the Westminster Public Accounts Committee that a new computerised theatre management information system would be in place by the end of 2006, the Department advised this Committee that this is not now expected to be in place until the end of 2008. The Committee recognises that such a system is essential to improve theatre management and therefore expects the Department to roll it out as soon as it is satisfied that it meets Trust requirements.

“This report sends out the message that accountability in the NI public sector is no longer an event and should now be considered a process. What today demonstrates is that, not only will PAC be holding evidence sessions on reports produced by the Comptroller and Auditor General, but where we consider it necessary, we will be recalling Accounting Officers to scrutinise how effective they have been in the implementation of our recommendations or, indeed, those made by Westminster PAC. This report today highlights the effectiveness of such a process ”.

Notes to Editors

Standing Orders under Section 60(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 have provided for the establishment of the Public Accounts Committee (the Committee). The main statutory function of the Committee is to consider accounts and the reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General for Northern Ireland (C&AG) laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The C&AG is head of the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) and is empowered to investigate any area of expenditure and has a statutory right of access to all files and papers in Departments and public bodies.
In September 2005, 47,000 people were waiting for inpatient or day case treatment; 12,000 were waiting more than 6 months, 2,500 were waiting more than 12 months and 300 were waiting more than 24 months. By 31 March 2007, there were 38,000 people waiting for inpatient or day case treatment and no one was waiting more than 6 months.
In 2006-07, 5,353 inpatient and day case procedures (3%) were carried out at a cost of £16.6 million. During the same period, 43,319 (10%) outpatient assessments were carried out.

The PAC Committee members are:-
Mr John O’Dowd, (SF) Chairperson
Mr Roy Beggs, (UUP) Deputy Chairperson
Mr Trevor Lunn ( Alliance)
Mr Jonathan Craig (DUP)
Mr Simon Hamilton (DUP)
Mr David Hilditch (DUP)
Mr Ian McCrea (DUP) *
Ms Dawn Purvis (PUP)
Mr Mitchel McLaughlin (SF)
Mr Thomas Burns (SDLP)**
Mr John Dallat (SDLP)

* Mr Ian McCrea (DUP) replaced Mr Mickey Brady (SF) on 21 January 2008
** Mr Thomas Burns (SDLP) replaced Mr Patsy McGlone (SDLP) on 4 March 2008

Media enquiries to:
Debra Savage,
Information Office, Parliament Buildings, Belfast. BT4 3XX
Tel. 028 90521405 Mobile 07920 864221
Email: debra.savage@niassembly.gov.uk

Website archive.niassembly.gov.uk

1. Northern Ireland Department of Finance and Personnel Memorandum on the 7 th and 8 th Reports from the Committee of Public Accounts session 2005-06; 2 December 2005; CM 6699

2. The Use of Operating Theatres in the Northern Ireland Health and Personal Social Services: House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts, 18 July 2005; 7th Report of Session 2005-06; HC 414

3. In September 2005, 47,000 people were waiting for in-patient or day case treatment; 12,000 were waiting more than 6 months, 2,500 were waiting more than 12 months and 300 were waiting more than 24 months. By 32 March 2007, there were 38,000 people waiting for inpatient or day case treatment and no-one was waiting more than 6 months.

4. 5,353 inpatient and day case procedures (3%) were carried out in 2006-07 at a cost of £16.6 million. During the same period, 43,319 (10%) outpatient assessments were carried out.