Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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217. To ask the Minister for Health the action he is taking to curb the growing numbers of persons on hospital waiting lists which have increased to 58,649 by August of this year when the number of persons waiting for gastrointestinal endoscopies is included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44023/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Significant progress has been made on waiting times since July 2011, when the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) was established to tackle access to acute hospital services. The figures referred to in the Deputy's question concern August of this year. The overall waiting list growth trend experienced from January to July is now reversed in the August figures. There has been a 2% reduction in the total number of patients waiting for admission in August over July, and a 6% reduction in those waiting over 12 months.

For 2013, the target is that no adult should wait longer than eight months for an inpatient or daycase procedure. The number of those waiting over 8 months has reduced by 23% since August 2011. The SDU together with the NTPF and the HSE is now engaged in a national intervention strategy to work towards the 2013 maximum wait times. This involves working closely with hospitals to analyse performance, to agree action plans and extra support as necessary and to ensure hospital capacity is being optimised. All hospitals have now developed and commenced necessary action plans to achieve the national target of having no patients waiting longer than 8 months by the end of this year. Improving access to hospital services is a priority in the Programme for Government and we are committed to reaching the maximum wait times set for this year.