Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 333: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the new measures he is taking to help the 1,854 persons who are waiting in Beaumont and Tallaght hospitals for colonoscopies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8536/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Figures supplied by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) for non-urgent colonoscopies show that a total of 1,854 were waiting for more than three months for this procedure, with 1,500 of these waiting between three and six months. The Health Service Executive (HSE) is working with hospitals and the NTPF to increase capacity to address this problem. The HSE is advising any person waiting more than three months for a colonoscopy procedure to contact the NTPF directly at 1890 720 820 to assess their eligibility for treatment.

The target waiting time for all those in urgent need of a colonoscopy is 28 days. In 2009, the HSE provided hospitals with national guidelines on managing colonoscopies including a standard definition of urgent need, developed in conjunction with clinicians, which is used to identify those at risk of cancer and requiring urgent colonoscopy. The monthly Performance Reports from the HSE show that approximately 98% of those requiring urgent colonoscopy are receiving the procedure within the 28 day target.