Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and welcome this reply but the difficulty is that the number of patients waiting to have surgery is still in excess of 400. The information I am getting from the surgeons and the front-line staff who must deal with the waiting lists and reduce them to a manageable size is that there ought to be a commitment to invest in delivering the theatres. I know the Minister of State understands this. We are trying to ascertain whether the commitment will be given. Ultimately, it is what will deal with the backlogs initially and have them managed thereafter.

I welcome the €15 million investment in the National Treatment Purchase Fund. I hope some of this will assist in dealing with some of the backlogs and waiting lists in this area. It is a short-term solution for dealing with waiting lists that is to be welcomed but in the longer term we must plan and strategise. The best way to deal with this for the future is to ensure we have the necessary infrastructure and appropriately staffed theatres ourselves.

The surgeon to whom I spoke highlighted that when surgeries are being carried out in private practice in Blackrock, for example, four to six can be carried out per day. In the same period in Tallaght Hospital, the maximum number carried out is two. This needs to be examined, regardless of whether it is a staffing issue or an efficiency issue. The people at the front line are doing everything they can. They are working in difficult circumstances, as we all know, but what is occurring is adding to the problem.

Those who need the procedures carried out are suffering from horrendous pain. I accept what the Minister of State said about pain management but I note, having spoken to the affected in recent days, that it is not working and it is having a serious negative impact on the patients' mental health. There are many consequences arising from having people suffering and waiting for over 24 months to have necessary procedures. I hope there will be a genuine refocusing on this issue, based on the delivery of the measures needed at the front line to deal with this unacceptable problem and the unacceptable waiting lists.

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