Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

That is my experience anyway. There are a number of solutions to outpatient waiting times. There are issues to be looked at in the following areas: making sure referrals are appropriate; providing additional capacity in clinics; ensuring the ratios are correct in making an adequate number of slots for new patients rather than having patients returning more frequently than is medically necessary; and looking at validation. Almost 500,000 people do not turn up for their outpatient appointments, which is more people than the number who are waiting over three months. This is a huge problem. It is not as simple as saying that the slots are there but are not being filled. Clearly, there is a big problem when huge numbers of people do not turn up for appointments. I do not believe the people are to blame for that: there must be a systemic issue. We need to look at investment in primary care, although this will not happen quickly. The increase of 40% in funding for general practice will make a difference, but it will take some time to see that.

I will check up on the issue of waiting times for the fair deal. I am not aware of any significant deterioration over the last two weeks but some Members have raised the issue and I will endeavour to check it out.

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