Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding an outpatient appointment to see an orthopaedic consultant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [8033/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The management of outpatient waiting lists is a matter for the HSE and the individual hospitals concerned. I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to the Executive for direct reply.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there is an established protocol in public hospitals regarding bringing persons in for surgical procedures on the day preceding surgery. [8044/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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In recent years, there has been a much-increased emphasis on improved efficiency in acute hospitals. In particular, the focus has been on reducing inpatient care activity levels through the provision of more appropriate service responses, with a shift to day-case care where appropriate, and on performance improvements in inpatient care such as surgery on the day of admission and reducing inappropriate lengths of stay. Specific targets under these headings are included in the HSE's 2011 National Service Plan.

There are significant variations in the acute hospital sector in the extent to which elective patients are admitted on the day of surgery. Developmental work already under way, such as the Elective Surgery and Acute Medicine Programme, is aimed at delivering more clinically appropriate, consistent and cost-effective care, in order to address this and other issues surrounding the patient journey.