Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Billy Kelleher and Niall Collins for raising the important issue of the need to reduce waiting times for appointments to see neurologists at University Hospital Limerick. Reducing waiting times is one of the Government's key priorities.

I am advised by the HSE that outpatient waiting lists, including neurology lists, are managed centrally at University Limerick hospitals group. All patients who are waiting are prioritised according to clinical need. University Limerick hospitals group will continue, as is right and proper, to focus on seeing and treating those who have been waiting longest.

The number of outpatients waiting for a neurology appointment at University Limerick hospitals group increased in 2017. At the end of January 2018, 408 patients were waiting. Among the reasons for the increase are growth in demand, an increase in the number of urgent referrals and a shortage of consultants.

This year, particular focus will be placed on the validation of outpatient waiting lists by University Limerick hospitals group to ensure all those who are waiting require appointments and resources can be targeted at those who need them. The scheduling of patients waiting longest will also be a focus. This will be subject to weekly review at hospital level and as part of this process, neurologists at University Hospital Limerick have commenced reviewing referrals of patients waiting longer than 36 months. Following consultation with patients' general practitioners, University Limerick hospitals group will schedule appointments as required. Hence, there is a weekly procedure in place at the hospital to try to get on top of this issue.

Recent experience with waiting list initiatives, including outsourcing, suggests there are opportunities for further improvements and a number of steps are being taken to ensure that lists are accurate. These efforts will intensify in the coming months. My Department has also requested the HSE to develop an outpatient waiting list action plan for 2018. I will ask that neurology waiting lists in University Hospital Limerick forms part of this action plan.

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