Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is a plan to reduce the waiting lists. I have outlined that plan and have also outlined the very specific target of getting the waiting times back to no longer than 15 months for outpatient, inpatient or day case appointments by the end of October. That is about as specific as I can be. The aim then is to enhance the target times further into 2018, recognising that we have €50 million allocated for waiting list initiatives in 2018 on top of the €20 million for this year. This will not all be done through the NTPF. It will involve the HSE developing its own waiting list plan - we have seen the progress it made in that regard last year - and the NTPF implementing its plan too.

As Deputy O'Reilly outlined, we have a system-wide escalation framework in place which has been agreed. The framework is aimed at making sure that when our acute hospitals experience overcrowding in their emergency departments appropriate measures are put in place. It is designed to support our hospital groups and community healthcare organisations, CHOs, in developing integrated escalation plans so that capacity and patient throughput is appropriately managed at a time of excess demand and the most acutely ill patients are seen. I take the point that it is an indication of the lack of adequate capacity. Indeed, it is the reason we need a bed capacity review, more beds and more staff within our health service. Bed capacity and recruitment are two key issues for the Department this year.

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