John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

166. To ask the Minister for Health the current status of circa 5,000 patients who were outsourced from Waterford Regional Hospital, WRH, in the past year; the facilities that these patients were outsourced so; the number of these patients that have received their recommended compliment of procedures in full; the number of these patients who are currently in the process of completing their treatment; the number still waiting to be seen at the facilities that they have been outsourced to; if any of the patients' case files have been returned to the remit of WRH; if he is confident that the decision to outsource these patients resulted in the most efficient and complete episode of care possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21355/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the HSE that, in 2013, a total of 6,456 patients on waiting lists for outpatient treatment at the Waterford Regional Hospital, were referred to private facilities for outpatient services, and a total of 666 patients were referred for in-patient/day case procedures. All 666 in-patient/day case patients have fully completed their episode of care. The patients were treated at the Whitfield Clinic Waterford; Aut Even Hospital, Kilkenny; Mater Private Hospital, Cork; Bon Secours Hospital, Cork and the Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin.

In relation to the 6,456 patients referred for outpatient services to the Whitfield Clinic Waterford, Aut Even Hospital, Kilkenny, and the Mater Private Hospital, Cork, 2,896 patients have been seen; the remaining 3,560 patients will be seen by the end of June 2014. Of the total number of patients seen, 1,940 patients have been discharged and 956 patients require a follow up episode of care. Arrangements are underway for Waterford Regional Hospital to take responsibility for the ogoing care of these patients. The files of those patients requiring ongoing care are in the possession of Waterford Regional Hospital.

The Deputy may wish to note that prior to signing Service Level Agreements with the hospitals concerned, the HSE engaged with the private providers with a view to agreeing a satisfactory price for the outsourced work. I have been assured that the costs agreed were considered reasonable when measured against national casemix costs. I am satisfied that, as hospitals are aligned into hospital groups, there will be increased potential to maximise the use of capacity across multiple sites, to ensure that challenges at individual hospital sites can be addressed in a timely fashion.