Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Reducing long waiting times for hospital treatment is a key priority for the Government. To comply with the commitment which I announced in late January of a maximum permissible waiting time of 18 months by the end of June and 15 months by year end, the Health Service Executive, HSE, has put in place specific measures to address waiting lists more efficiently in collaboration with acute hospitals, the special delivery unit and the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

The effect of these measures is already evident. In early February, a total of 4,995 patients required treatment to achieve that measure. As of Friday, 22 May, this number had reduced to 2,693.

The HSE, in conjunction with hospital groups, is focused on delivering on this requirement through maximising the use of internal capacity within and across hospital groups in the first instance. However, there are key limiting factors, primarily in terms of theatre nursing staff and consultant manpower in particular specialties. Consequently, it is recognised that judicious outsourcing is also required and this is being managed through a public tendering process.

The elimination of the longest waiting periods for treatment is a key performance objective for 2015. Its achievement will allow for progressive improvement in access to treatments throughout the year.

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