Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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406. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for ENT services at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; the average waiting time for ENT services at the hospital; the number of ENT consultants based at the hospital at present; the services that are currently in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43198/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Improving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Collaborating with individual hospitals, the SDU, together with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE, has developed the outpatient waiting list minimum dataset. This allows data to be submitted to the NTPF from hospitals on a weekly basis and, for the first time, outpatient data is available on www.ntpf.ie. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has been set of 12 months for a first time consultant-led outpatient appointment and this is reflected in the HSE service plan. The SDU and the NTPF will work closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time. In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.