Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, I am considering that. We need to be very careful in doing that because with certain specialties, outsourcing one outpatient procedure may adequately address the patient's needs but others might require the patient to go back into the public system for an inpatient or day-case procedure.

In recent weeks I met representatives of the NTPF and asked them to look at what role, if any, they can play in respect of outpatient procedures. I hope to be able to progress some of that in the context of the funding that will become available to the HSE in 2018. The number of people in Sligo waiting more than 18 months is a small percentage of the overall list. However, that is no consolation for the people on the list. Some 4.7% of people waiting for outpatient procedures have been waiting for more than 18 months. I accept that is too long. Demand continues to grow. More outpatient procedures are being done in the health service, but we also have a growing and ageing population requiring more medical care.

The referral pathway is the approach for this. As the Deputy knows, as part of our negotiations on the GP contract, we are investigating if things we do in acute hospital settings could be done in primary care which will free up more capacity. That will not work for everything but will provide more capacity. I will take on board the points the Deputy has made about Sligo University Hospital as we develop and frame our NTPF and waiting list plans for 2018.

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