Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I think the Deputy has honestly and fairly assessed the situation in terms of needing to deal with the backlog and those waiting longest as well as the fact that many new people are coming on to waiting lists each day. Previously, there were 25,000 referrals per month from general practice to the acute hospital sector. Last year, we saw approximately 35,000 per month on average. More and more people are, rightly, using our health service and seeking specialist treatment. Moreover, our population is growing. All these factors produce pressure points in respect of our health service.

However, specific actions are being taken. The level of detail the three children's hospitals have provided me with in terms of the additional clinics and co-operation is helpful. These three hospitals are, relatively speaking, geographically well-placed to work together. They will come together under the new paediatric model of care for the national children's hospital. This will include putting in place the ear, nose and throat clinic, hiring more consultants and using locum cover in the interim. Those responsible in Children's University Hospital, Temple Street are looking at putting in place a new paediatric post for cardiology as well as insourcing and outsourcing options for urology.

Several of these initiatives will be undertaken as a result of the funding provided by the National Treatment Purchase Fund and as a result of the large budget that has been provided to the HSE. The target for this year is that by the end of October no one will be waiting longer than 15 months for an outpatient, inpatient or day-case procedure. A specific target has been given by the director general in respect of scoliosis to the effect that by the end of this year no child will have to wait longer than four months.

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