Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would genuinely ask the Deputy to provide me with information on this if he can because I would be more than happy to look at it. As already stated, I am informed that the NTPF can only report cancellations after the fact. Nor should patients be scheduled for treatment more than six weeks in advance. If there is an issue in that regard, I would be more than happy to look into it if the Deputy can provide me with the information.

In the context of the coming of winter and ensuring that we continue to drive down the number of people on waiting lists, 2,100 fewer people were waiting for hospital procedures or operations last month than was the case the month before. We need to build on that month on month. We continue to utilise the NTPF so that procedures will continue to be performed at a time when our emergency departments are extraordinarily busy.

We will also continue to utilise public hospitals with non-emergency departments and smaller public hospitals, including Cappagh Hospital and some of the level 2 hospitals, in order that it is not all about insourcing. I will be more than happy to correspond with the Deputy on the issues he has raised.

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