John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 888: To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 445 of 17 January 2012, if she will arrange an appointment at the ear, nose and throat clinic in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny [26582/12]

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 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 vast majority of hospitals achieved this objective. This year I have set a target that, by year end, no adult will be waiting longer than 9 months and no child longer than 20 weeks for in-patient or daycase treatment. Currently the NTPF / SDU is intensely engaged with public hospitals supporting their planning processes that will underpin the delivery of these targets.

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 hospital involved.