Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question. He has raised one of the greatest challenges in the health service. It is a top priority for me and the Government. Before the Government was formed and Covid arrived, waiting lists were far too high across the board. They are still too high and very significant action is required. The 2022 waiting list action plan, which I will bring to the Government shortly, builds on the successes of the plan in the fourth quarter of 2021, which ran from September until December.

That 2021 plan was developed by my Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and cyberattack on scheduled care and stabilise the resulting growth in waiting lists. Understandably, many more people are coming forward for care.

I am pleased to say that the actions under the plan for last year delivered immediate extra activity, resulting in a 6% reduction in waiting lists last year. Considering the pressure the system was under last year, it is welcome that we were able to reduce the lists at the same time. Obviously, we must go much further. More than 40,000 additional men, women and children treated under the action plan last year no longer have to wait for care.

The short-term plan also incorporated reform actions that will continue to be progressed as part of the 2022 waiting list action plan. This includes revised waiting list management protocols, improved data collection and information and further work towards improving patient pathways of care. Some 37 priority scheduled care pathways across 16 specialties are on track for implementation in 2022. These will ensure the availability of more timely access to care for people in settings closer to their communities and homes.

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