James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 1358: To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether it is justified that a person (details supplied) in County Longford should have their hip replacement postponed due to the fact that a consultant orthopaedic surgeon resigned from the National Injury Services in March 2011 and has not been replaced to date, leaving them in on-going pain and distress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18974/12]

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.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1359: To ask the Minister for Health the reason hospitals continue to issue appointments which exceed the 12 month guidelines applied to the special delivery unit even though they are subject to a €25,000 fine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18975/12]

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.

By the end of 2011, very significant progress had been made on SDU initiatives in relation to unscheduled care and inpatient/day case targets. In order to maintain and improve on these targets, the SDU has advised the HSE of a penalty scheme which will be levied on hospitals which fail to treat inpatients and day cases within the 12 month target. Work has now begun on access to outpatient services, with the recent launch of the OPD Performance Improvement Programme. I am conscious that the long wait for OPD appointments is a major barrier to accessing health services and I intend to have this situation remedied as a matter of urgency.

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.