Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive an appointment at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin, for an operation or procedure, in view of the fact that the appointment was cancelled twice in July; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29599/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am determined to address the issues which cause unacceptable delays in patients receiving treatment in our hospitals. In this regard I have established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), which will work to unblock access to acute services by dramatically improving the flow of patients through the system, and by streamlining waiting lists, including referrals from GPs. The SDU is working closely with its partner agencies - mainly the HSE and the NTPF.

As a priority, public hospitals have been instructed to ensure that, by the end of 2011, they have no patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment. Where they fail to do so, the NTPF will source the necessary treatments elsewhere and an appropriate budgetary adjustment will be made.

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and facility involved.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 465: To ask the Minister for Health if he will request the Health Service Executive to expedite surgical intervention in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29644/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 466: To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork who has been attending the ophthalmology department at Cork University Hospital since May 2011 will be provided with the necessary surgical procedures to deal with the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29651/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I am determined to address the issues which cause unacceptable delays in patients receiving treatment in our hospitals. In this regard I have established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), which will work to unblock access to acute services by dramatically improving the flow of patients through the system, and by streamlining waiting lists, including referrals from GPs. The SDU is working closely with its partner agencies - mainly the HSE and the NTPF.

As a priority, public hospitals have been instructed to ensure that, by the end of 2011, they have no patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment. Where they fail to do so, the NTPF will source the necessary treatments elsewhere and an appropriate budgetary adjustment will be made.

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and facility involved.