Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress being made in reducing the waiting lists and times for rheumatology; the number of patients on waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13064/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I recognise that we need to strengthen rheumatology services, particularly by improving waiting times for rheumatology appointments. I am anxious to see improvements implemented as quickly as possible. The HSE's provisional waiting list figures for February 2009 indicate that there are just over 3,000 patients on waiting lists across all hospitals of whom over 70% are waiting for less than one year.

The HSE is taking steps to improve the situation. Since the publication in 2005 of a report by the former Comhairle na nOspidéal, the HSE has appointed a number of additional consultant rheumatologists. Two new posts were created in the Midlands and North West areas and a third additional post of Paediatric Rheumatologist was filled in Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin in 2006. The HSE intends to appoint two Rheumatologists in the Mid West to provide services in Ennis and Nenagh as part of the process of reconfiguration of acute services. It is intended to create two further Consultant Rheumatology posts in 2009 one each in the South and the North East.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has also been working to reduce Rheumatology waiting lists. Since the Fund's outpatient programme commenced, a total of 1,970 people have been facilitated with outpatient Rheumatology appointments and further such appointments will be facilitated in 2009. In 2006, the HSE established a working group in association with Arthritis Ireland, to examine how rheumatology services could be improved. A report based on the Group's work is in the final stages of editing at present prior to presentation to the HSE Board and publication.

In relation to waiting times generally, the HSE is working across all medical specialties to ensure that best practice in ensuring prompt access to a hospital outpatient appointment is implemented. Measures will include setting targets for waiting times, ensuring that hospitals validate waiting lists, addressing the issue of persons who fail to attend for appointments and scrutinising new-to-return ratios to maximise the capacity available for new patients to be assessed. The HSE will also seek, particularly in the area of rheumatology and other chronic disease management processes, to exploit the multi-disciplinary skills available including specialist nursing and allied health professionals in both secondary and primary care. This is considered to have the potential to release acute care capacity to improve access times for new patients.