Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Health if he has received correspondence from a person (details supplied) regarding suggestions for reform in our hospitals; if he will seek a detailed response from the Health Service Executive to these suggestions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22997/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Department has received the correspondence referred to by the Deputy and it has been duly noted.

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 were instructed to ensure that, by the end of 2011, they had no patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment. I can confirm that the vast majority of hospitals achieved this objective. During 2012 the SDU will support hospitals in the delivery of a 9 month maximum wait time for inpatient or day case surgery.

In this regard, I am pleased to note that a significant number of the suggestions raised in the correspondence are already in operation on hospital sites.