Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to provide an update to the House on this issue. Chronic pain is a major problem, which the Senator, who is a practising medic, understands well. He has eloquently outlined the case here for those suffering from the condition. It is important that patients have access to diagnosis and effective pain management programmes as quickly as possible. The delivery of services in the most appropriate environment and location with the required multidisciplinary team expertise is a key element of the Saolta University Healthcare Group's clinical strategy.

Unfortunately, however, there are no immediate plans to commence a pain management service in Mayo University Hospital. The pain management service within Saolta is currently delivered from University Hospital Galway and Sligo University Hospital with a limited service in Letterkenny University Hospital. I acknowledge there are waiting lists for pain relief services at University Hospital Galway and Sligo University Hospital. Improving access to hospital treatment is a key priority for Government and yesterday's budget announced an allocation to the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, of €75 million in 2019, from which the NTPF plans to fund 25,000 inpatient day-case treatments.

The priority of the Department of Health is to maintain a seamless continuation of the considerable progress made this year into next year. The Department is working closely with the NTPF and the HSE to finalise a coherent waiting list action plan for 2019 before the end of this year.