Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

It is regrettable that some patients have their operations postponed and I recognise that this can cause inconvenience and stress for them and their families. Every effort continues to be made by the HSE and hospitals to keep cancellations to a minimum. However, due to fluctuating demands on the acute hospital system, in some instances it is necessary to reschedule planned treatment, particularly when priority has to be given to emergency cases.

The Government has pursued a number of policy initiatives to increase throughput of the acute hospital system by way of improved infrastructure, providing additional acute beds, increasing the amount of day surgery, increasing the number of consultants and providing more step-down accommodation and home-care packages. For example, the number of patients treated on a day-case basis has doubled between 1997 and 2004. The number of approved consultant posts increased by 56%. The National Treatment Purchase Fund has also been successful in facilitating treatments for patients in private hospitals, here and abroad. To date more than 38,000 patients have had treatment arranged for them by the National Treatment Purchase Fund and waiting times for elective surgery have fallen significantly. It is now the case that, in general, anyone waiting more than three months for surgery will be facilitated by the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

As Deputy Twomey is aware, the Health Service Executive, through the National Hospitals Office, has lead responsibility to manage and deliver the services provided in acute hospitals. The Department of Health and Children will continue to work closely with the HSE in monitoring the delivery of acute hospital services to ensure that the postponement of elective operations and procedures is kept to a minimum.

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