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

I take the Deputy's point on the capacity issue. I strongly accept the point that the reductions in waiting times are impressive. It is a key priority of the Government to reduce patients' waiting times for hospital operations and procedures. The Minister and I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long. We are conscious of the burden they place on patients and their families and on hospital staff. We take that point. I will bring the Deputy's message in respect of confidence back to the Minister. The overall outpatient waiting list, which includes those on gynaecology waiting lists, remains a significant challenge. Therefore, I welcome the great co-operation of the CUMH and its continued work to reduce outpatient waiting lists this year. The Minister welcomes the engagement of the South/South West hospital group and CUMH with Sláintecare and the NTPF. I share the Minister's position. I encourage all hospital groups and individual hospitals to engage with the NTPF to develop proposals for waiting list initiatives for inpatient day case procedures and for outpatients. Under the scheduled care access plan, the NTPF will provide funding for 40,000 new outpatient appointments this year. The HSE advises me that a new commissioning process has been established through which all proposals for funding will be considered within the framework of the annual Estimates process. I will bring the Deputy's concerns back to the Minister.

See this speech in context