Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Hearne. It is about dignity, which I fully accept. As a former Chair of the health committee and as a TD, I am very much aware of this. People are waiting for too long for procedures and outpatients appointments, not just in Beaumont Hospital but across our hospital network. The Government is committed to addressing these issues. It is a priority of the Government and of the Minister for Health.

The importance attached to reducing waiting lists is demonstrated by the level of investment over the last number of years through the multi-annual waiting list action plan, including €420 million this year. As I said, this investment, together with additional significant investment across our health budget, means our acute hospitals are delivering higher levels of activity than ever before. As I outlined to the Deputy, the budget and staffing at Beaumont Hospital have increased significantly during a five-year period.

However, despite the increased level of activity, we are seeing a growing and an ageing population, which is leading to an increased demand and unprecedented levels of additions to our waiting times and waiting lists. As the Deputy said and as we all know, this has resulted in the number on our outpatient waiting lists and on a significant number of other lists growing which means they are higher than we would wish. We must focus on waiting times rather than the overall volumes on the lists.

A growing population and increased and expanded services will always drive appropriate referrals for consultations and procedures. Focusing on waiting times is the proper metric and here the system is showing progress and outcomes are improving. By continuing to build capacity in our public health system, employing more staff and continuing to make targeted interventions through the waiting list action plan, we will continue to make progress in our ultimate aim of achieving the Sláintecare waiting time target of ten weeks for an outpatient appointment and 12 weeks for an inpatient day case procedure.

I join with the Deputy in thanking the staff for the work they are doing. We are increasing investment and will ensure our health system is of a high quality, scheduled around the care of the patient. That is the most important thing we should be doing.

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