Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health in view of figures from the Health Service Executive that showed that 26,000 people failed to show up for appointments at Waterford Regional Hospital in the past 18 months if he will outline the way this is going to be tackled and the proceedures being put in place to ensure that persons are given adequate notice and encouraged to attend in time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44502/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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While acute hospitals currently have in place a variety of DNA (did not attend) policies, a standardised approach is now being developed as part of a national Outpatient Performance Improvement Programme. This Programme, developed by the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) will be implemented nationally over the period 2012 to 2015 to improve the provision of outpatient services. The Programme will address the management of DNAs as well as a range of other issues. If a patient finds they cannot attend the appointment they have been given I would appeal to all such patients to inform the clinic concerned as soon as they know they cannot attend.