Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The numbers on waiting lists are at their highest since records began. An astonishing 707,000 patients are waiting for treatment. Repeated comparisons of healthcare waiting times with those in other OECD countries show that there is very significant scope for improvement in Ireland. An example at which we could look is the Portuguese IT model which has led to significant reductions in hospital waiting times. If we consider the position in Ireland, as far back as 2001, there was a commitment given in the health strategy, Quality and Fairness, that by the end of 2004 no public patient would have to wait for more than three months to commence treatment, following referral from an outpatients' department. However, no serious effort was ever made to achieve that target and waiting times have grown substantially ever since. The reality is that the number waiting for more than 18 months for inpatient or day case treatment has soared. The number of long-term waiters on outpatient waiting lists has increased substantially. They show an increase of 29,956 since May last year. According to the 2017 Euro Health Consumer Index, Ireland had the worst hospital waiting lists in Europe.

The report also concluded that the number of Irish patients waiting for surgery or an outpatient appointment is “abysmal”. The ever-lengthening hospital waiting lists are a product of understaffing, a lack of capacity, and inefficiencies in the system. To resolve this ever-growing crisis the Government must increase the capacity of the hospital system by recruiting the necessary staff, opening more beds and investing in care in the community.

To reduce waiting times further, Sinn Féin would introduce an integrated hospital waiting list management system which we call Comhliosta. This is a waiting list initiative similar to that used by the Portuguese national health system, which has proven to have had a sustained and positive impact on waiting times.

Will it require more people to continue to suffer while on waiting lists before this issue is finally sorted? Tá áthas orm go bhfuil an tAire ag glacadh leis an Private Members' business seo. Tá sé thar am.

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