Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister and I are acutely aware of the distress and inconvenience caused to patients and their families when urgent care is delayed. Improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures remains a key commitment for the Government. However, it is acknowledged that the challenges faced by the health system in 2020 are unlike anything we have ever faced before. We are very aware of the impact the Covid-19 crisis has had on our health service and the delivery of scheduled care. CHI's commitment to prioritise spinal surgery and find new ways to deliver care exemplifies the work undertaken by the HSE to provide care in a challenging Covid-19 environment.

The Minister is committed to ensuring that access for children, including children with spina bifida, is improved. CHI has advised the Department that its current level of activity is running at approximately 85% of pre-Covid levels. CHI has increased the number of virtual clinics taking place to address outpatient waiting lists.  CHI is also maximising opportunities to use facilities, such as at Connolly hospital and HSE's Citywest facility, as alternative settings for clinics in order that timely appointments may be provided to patients.  Officials from my Department continue to engage on an ongoing basis with representatives from CHI and the HSE to monitor access to services, waiting lists and activity levels.

The Department also welcomes the work undertaken by the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, to publish paediatric waiting lists and looks forward to seeing that project coming to fruition early next week. I will follow up on the case of Oisín and many other children and I hope to get back to the Deputy in the coming days.

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