Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue and for allowing me the opportunity to outline the progress made on reducing waiting times for treatment. I assure the Senator and the House that there is no question of any dishonest means being used in any respect with regard to the information that I will give to him and the House and I reject any suggestion to the contrary.
The special delivery unit was established, as the House will be aware, almost three years ago. Since then significant progress has been made on reducing the numbers of patients on hospital trolleys and waiting lists. The number of people waiting longer than the 52 week target reduced from 27% in April 2013 to 7% in April this year. In addition, the period from January to April 2014 saw a 6% increase in outpatient appointments provided by the HSE, that is, an extra 56,810 appointments compared with the same period in 2013. Furthermore, in terms of scheduled care, inpatients and day cases, a comparison of April 2014 against April 2013 data shows a 5% decrease in the number of patients waiting over eight months.
The Senator made particular reference to orthopaedic services in Waterford University Hospital. I understand that the current waiting time for outpatient orthopaedic referrals is 20 months. I am acutely conscious that this waiting time of 20 months is outside the so-called no-longer-than-12-month-target that has been set for outpatient appointments. I am, however, advised that the SDU and the HSE are working on a series of options to address waiting list issues and are continuing to explore options to reduce waiting times for patients requiring treatment. The consultant staffing complement of the orthopaedic department at University Hospital Waterford is eight whole time equivalent posts. Currently seven posts are filled, two of which are filled on a temporary basis. I am advised that the vacant eighth post will be filled on a permanent basis with effect from Monday next, 7 July. The filling of this consultant post should help ease the pressure on the orthopaedic department in the hospital and have a positive impact on waiting times.
In 2012 University Hospital Waterford undertook an initiative with Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital and the National Treatment Purchase Fund. As a result, a total of 1,871 patient referrals were sent from Waterford to Cappagh with an agreement that Cappagh would complete the episode of care for this cohort of patients. The initiative progressed as planned and Cappagh managed the patients as required including: validation, musculoskeletal review, investigations, procedure and follow-up discharge. In June 2013 this initiative came to an end and responsibility for the care of these patients was returned to University Hospital Waterford. All of the patients who were previously seen in Cappagh will be seen by University Hospital Waterford orthopaedic consultants to complete their episodes of care. Some of these patients have already been seen in Waterford and any patients with appointments outstanding will be seen as soon as arrangements can be made.
University Hospital Waterford has assured me and the Minister that it is committed to completing the episode of care for the cohort of patients who had their care transferred back from Cappagh and the hospital will continue to work to ensure that the care pathway is completed in each case.
I referred to the current waiting time of 20 months for orthopaedic treatment in UHW. The SDU and the HSE are working on a series of options to address waiting list issues and are continuing to explore options to reduce waiting times for patients requiring treatment. This initiative, along with the appointment of a new consultant to University Hospital Waterford next week, will, I expect, lead to an improvement in waiting times for patients.