Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Calleary for the question. In line with the all-party vision set out under Sláintecare, the Government is prioritising investment in the expansion of primary care services, including dietetics. Overall funding for primary care increased by more than €50 million, or 6.1%, in the HSE's national service plan for 2019. Among other things, this will enable the recruitment of additional nurses, therapists and other health professionals such as dieticians. I acknowledge the role of Deputy Calleary's party on this during the budgetary process.

I understand that the dietician service in Mayo has been under particular pressure as some staff are on extended leave, while the number of referrals rose significantly during 2018 to 830 compared with 425 in 2017. Nonetheless, despite these pressures, the number of individuals waiting for treatment fell from 700 at the end of 2017 to 523 at the end of 2018, a reduction of 25%. I recognise a large number of people are still waiting, and although such progress is to be welcomed, the numbers waiting to access this important service are still too high. I am very aware of the stress this can cause to families.

With regard to measures now being taken specifically to improve access times further in County Mayo, I can inform the Deputy that community healthcare area west recently completed panel interviews for senior dietician posts, which will fill two dietetics vacancies in Mayo, and dieticians are adapting their working methods by using web texts and opt-in letters to enable them to plan clinics more effectively. Although it is too early to determine the impact of these measures, it is anticipated that they will help to improve access times throughout the county during 2019.

I have asked the HSE to outline specifically the impact of these measures on waiting times for those seeking the service in County Mayo in 2019, and it has said it will revert to the Deputy directly.

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