Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Ó Domhnaill for raising this issue and for giving me an opportunity to update the House. Improving waiting times for scheduled care for patients is a key priority for the Government. In January, I put in place maximum permissible waiting times for inpatient and day case treatment and outpatient appointments of 18 months by 30 June and 15 months by the end of this year. In excess of €51 million in supplementary funding has been provided this year in order that these maximum waiting time goals can be achieved. This comprises an extra €26 million, in order that the 15-month maximum waiting time can be achieved by the end of the year, on top of €25 million provided earlier this year to help the HSE to meet the 18-month target by the end of June.

In June, the HSE reported a performance against the 18-month maximum of 99.6% for inpatient and day case treatment and 92% for outpatient appointments. To maintain progress and to make further improvements to achieve a 15-month maximum by the end of December, the HSE has launched its new initiative to ensure hospitals both comply with the new maximums and address any outstanding long waiters, following the first wave of targeted waiting list activity up to July 2015. Progress against all targets and plans for waiting lists will continue to be monitored closely and moved forward through the HSE performance management and accountability framework.

On urology at Letterkenny General Hospital, I am informed that the former consultant urologist in Letterkenny retired in February 2015. The hospital has tried to secure a locum consultant urologist pending the appointment of a substantive post but has been unsuccessful so far. To ensure appropriate urology care continues to be provided to the patients of the north west, arrangements are in place for both emergency and planned urology admissions. Patients who require emergency admission for urology services are referred to University Hospital Galway, as has been the long-standing practice in cases where the consultant urologist was not on call. Non-emergency urology services are being provided from within the Saolta group at University Hospital Galway and Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe. Inpatient treatment for some patients has also been arranged in Northern Ireland. These measures will continue while a consultant urologist is being recruited for Letterkenny.

On urology equipment, Letterkenny has received approval to purchase a new male urodynamic machine to the value of €25,000. The national procurement service of the HSE has begun the procurement process for the purchase of this equipment. I can also inform the Senator that the volume of general surgery undertaken at Letterkenny General Hospital has expanded through the appointment of a temporary general surgeon to provide emergency general surgical services, and the permanent post has been advertised.

Urology services are an essential component of clinical care at Letterkenny General Hospital. I am assured that the Saolta university health care group and local hospital management are fully committed to restoring the full urology service at the hospital and are making every effort to restore that service as soon as possible, including working with all the appropriate medical agencies with which the hospital has a contract.