Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree entirely with the Deputy who I know has a huge interest in ICT and how it should work. That said, it is remiss of patients not to keep their appointments. Given that there are so many on waiting lists, when people do not show up, it causes difficulties for the staff running clinics. It is for this reason that most hospitals over-estimate the numbers who will not show up when making outpatient clinic appointments. I agree with the Deputy that a significant number of people do not show up for recurring appointments.

The Minister has outlined that we are in the process of moving to an advanced booking scheme which will give patients two choices of appointment time. I think that is a step in the right direction. These initiatives are being processed in conjunction with the HSE outpatient waiting list action plan. It is important that we develop the IT systems right across all hospitals and not just in particular mainstream hospitals. There is a need for us to catch up with the times, as the Deputy said. We are well noted around the world for our specialties in the IT systems. It is time to implement that in the health service, particularly around hospital appointment lists. I will bring some of the notes I have taken, particularly in respect of UL, to the attention of the Minister and I will ask him to reply directly to the Deputy on the two specific issues he has raised.

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