James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 15: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients waiting more than four weeks for a colonoscopy as at the end of April 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24978/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational one and would in the normal course of events be referred to the HSE for direct reply. However, owing to industrial action, the matter cannot be referred and accordingly, I have set out the position for the Deputy in so far as information is available to my Department.

In approving its National Service Plan for 2010, I have instructed the HSE to ensure that urgent colonoscopies are provided within four weeks. In the case of non-urgent colonoscopies, the HSE has instructed hospitals to refer patients waiting for longer than three months to the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

The latest information (May 2009) available to my Department shows that in the 19 hospitals which reported data on colonoscopy waiting times, no patient is waiting longer than 28 days for an urgent colonoscopy. In the case of non-urgent colonoscopies, the latest figures (May 2009) available to my Department from the NTPF show 1,081 people waiting longer than three months. Colonoscopies are carried out for a range of possible conditions and this figure would include cases where cancer is not suspected.