Mr. Paul Bolger:

The Chairman asked what proportion of the 8,000 reduction in the number of inpatient procedures is accounted for by validation of lists. A level of activity underpins that change in the waiting list. I will revert to the committee with further details on the changes since last year. Since the start of this year, 54,000 people have been added to the list and 57,000 removed. That is the result of both HSE activity, which includes an element of validation, and NTPF activity. The 8,000 is the net result in terms of the waiting list.

The Chairman asked about the elective procedures targeted by the NTPF and whether that is being done on an inpatient day case basis. The inpatient day case action plan we published in April set out seven high-volume procedures to be targeted, namely, cataracts, hip and knee replacements, varicose veins, tonsils, cysts, coronary angiograms and the excision of lesions. An eighth category, gastrointestinal, GI, scopes, is slightly outside that grouping. In addition, the NTPF set aside funding for those waiting more than 18 months for a procedure. As mentioned, there is funding to enable hospitals to bring forward proposals to address specific waiting list challenges they face. The NTPF delivers the seven high-volume procedures, GI scopes and a range of other procedures. It has more than doubled the number of procedures it offers through the private sector from approximately 20 last year to 50.

Deputy Durkan referred to the length of time people wait for outpatient appointments. We have already touched on some of the initiatives under way. There has been much discussion of validation, which is a critical part of the system to ensure we have accurate lists to help with planning. Several members questioned the style and form that would take, such as, for example, patients having seven days' notice or being required to confirm by phone. Such queries indicate the rationale for the establishment of a centralised validation office, namely, that we will learn from best practice and that a standard approach led by the NTPF will be taken to the validation of waiting lists across the system.