Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 676: To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 384 of 8 May 2012 (details supplied), if he will intervene in this instance in order to secure a confirmed date for this procedure to take place. [25538/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 improving the flow of patients through the system, and by streamlining waiting lists, including the management of referrals from GPs by hospitals. 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 95% 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 daycase surgery.

The NTPF is working with hospitals to ensure that those waiting longest are treated first and that chronological order is maintained, save where clinical requirements determine otherwise, resulting in a fairer and more equitable approach across the total population awaiting surgery. I should emphasise that it is the patient's Consultant who determines the clinical urgency. Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment or a review of their clinical urgency, then as a clinician he/she would be in the best and most appropriate position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.