Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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530. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11737/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government committed to improving the waiting times for Consultant outpatient appointments and commenced work on this with the publication of the first validated Outpatient waiting list in March 2013. In the 9 months between when these figures were first collated and the end of 2013, the total number of patients awaiting first Outpatient referral appointments has reduced by 25% from 399,951 to 300,752 . Of these, 295,815 are waiting less than 12 months, a level of 98.4% compliance with the Government target of 12 months.

- Numbers waiting 12-24 months have reduced by 94%, from 67,529 down to 3,990

- Numbers waiting 24-36 months have reduced by 97%, from 23,726 down to 706

- Numbers waiting 36-48 months have reduced by 97%, from 7,802 down to 197

- Numbers waiting 48+ months have reduced by 99%, from 7,795 down to 44

Of course, referrals for first time appointments are only one part of the activity taking place in Outpatient clinics. In 2013 the 736,960 new referrals seen by consultants accounted for approximately 30% of their total Outpatient workload: a further 1,720,850 return appointments brought the full number of attendances at Outpatient clinics to 2,457,810. A key part of the management of outpatient waiting lists, is addressing the loss of 16% of the total potential outpatient capacity due to patients not attending scheduled outpatient appointments (often referred to as the ‘Do Not Attend’ or ‘DNA’ rate). Through the introduction of validation of current waiting lists, revised control processes in respect of patients who fail to attend booked appointments, using texts and/or letters to prompt patients about forthcoming appointments, facilitating patient choice in the arrangement of appointments and the use of electronic referral systems, it is intended to reduce the ‘DNA’ rate to 10% in 2014.

Finally, it should be borne in mind that a patient's first point of call should always be to their GP, rather than seeking direct self-referral or referral from another source, as the patient's GP is most likely to have a greater knowledge of their previous medical history, current co-morbidities and other factors which may be essential to the consultant in order to provide the most appropriate and effective care.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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531. To ask the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding consultant referrals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11738/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The development of Primary Care Services is a priority under the Programme for Government and is an essential component of the health service reform process. The aim is to provide up to 95% of health and social care in local communities and this will be achieved by increasing activity in the primary care setting and the redirecting of services away from acute hospitals to the community.

The Government has planned to implement the following key measures in primary care during its term in office and significant progress has already been made in these areas:

- Introduction of a universal GP service free at the point of access;

- Introduction of a new GP contract;

- Phased roll out of chronic disease management programmes;

- Expansion of the primary care workforce; and

- Continued development of the primary care infrastructure.

I am satisfied that the implementation of the above key measures will play a significant part in the re-focussing of health services in line with the Government's health reform programme and consequently, ensuring that more patients are treated in the community, reducing unnecessary hospital appointments.

In relation to waiting times for public patients to see consultants, a maximum waiting time target of 12 months has been set for a first time consultant-led outpatient appointment and this is reflected in the HSE's National Service Plan. The National Waiting List Management Policy, "A Standardised Approach to Managing Scheduled Care Treatment for In-Patient, Day Case and Planned Procedures, January 2013", has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

With regard to arrangements for the referral of private patients to consultants, neither my Department nor the HSE have any function in the matter.