Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Michael McGrath for raising this important issue. I welcome the opportunity to address the House on it. The HSE advises that while it has not been possible to provide funding this year for the opening of the second gynaecology theatre, a new commissioning process has been established by the HSE through which all proposals for funding will be considered within the framework of the annual Estimates process. I am advised that the HSE is reviewing all possible ways to achieve a sustainable solution to the challenges being experienced in CUMH in the short and medium terms. It has advised that the possibility of NTPF support is an option that will be considered. It has further advised that a funded and targeted waiting list initiative is under way in Cork specifically to address the gynaecology outpatient waiting list in the region. This has resulted in a decrease in the number of patients on the outpatient waiting list from 5,000 in early 2017 to just over 1,500 patients on 2 May last. The South/South West hospital group is aiming to reduce this number to 1,000 by June 2019. The initiatives being pursued to meet this target include the commencement of additional out-of-hours gynaecology outpatient clinics, the commencement in November 2018 of a weekly outreach outpatient clinic at Mallow primary health centre in conjunction with the GPs in the clinic, an increase in the number of new patients being seen at all clinics and the establishment of additional daily gynaecology clinics from July 2018.

Last year, the support of the South/South West hospital group and funding from the NTPF to the CUMH enabled the treatment of 87 long waiters from the waiting list. This year, funding has been agreed through the NTPF for the treatment of almost 850 patients who are waiting for inpatient day case or outpatient appointments. The total that is due to be received from NTPF in 2019 is over €630,000. The Department of Health recently convened a working group to develop a scheduled care improvement plan. The objective of this working group, which comprises representatives of the HSE and the NTPF as well as departmental officials, is to examine medium to long-term initiatives to improve access to outpatient services, in particular. Gynaecology will be among the specialties examined by the working group. The group is examining the current models of care, the current and projected demand and capacity of services, the short-term, medium-term and long-term initiatives to improve access for patients at community and acute hospital level, the best way to move care to more appropriate settings and the best way to provide care at the lowest level of complexity.

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