Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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129. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he may anticipate a reduction in the time taken for patients to meet with their respective consultants with a view to early access to hospital and relevant surgical procedures; if he has examined the basic cause or causes for waiting lists for various procedures; if he expects to be in a position to address such issue in the short to medium term; if he will identify the precise measures needed to make a positive impact on the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42787/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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According to the HSE's most recently published data, the total number of patients on in-patient and day case waiting lists at the end of August 2014 was 53,431. This is an increase of 3,736 or 7.5% on August 2013.

In August 2014 the number of patients waiting in excess of 12 months for an outpatient appointment has decreased from 84,167 to 41,604; a reduction of 51% when comparing the same periods in 2013 and 2014. Furthermore, the percentage of patients waiting more than 12 months has decreased from 22% in August 2013 to 11% in August 2014. Up to the end of August there has been a 3% increase in outpatient attendances compared to 2013; this equates to 64,289 additional patients seen. Although the increased provision and uptake of outpatient appointments is positive, it is likely to result in some additional demand for in-patient and day cases.

The trends indicate that waiting lists are likely to continue to increase in to next year. The capacity to provide services for these patients has been curtailed by increased emergency admissions and delayed discharges. The HSE continues to seek improvements in the provision of elective surgery, medical and outpatient services through reform, facilitation of local level initiatives, strict adherence to the National Waiting List Protocol and relevant HSE Clinical Programme guidelines and networking of services between hospitals in the new Hospital Groups. The Government has provided additional funding of €25 million in 2015 to address delayed discharges and thereby improve timeliness for admissions from Emergency Departments and waiting lists. The plans to address in-patient and day-case waiting lists are being considered in the 2015 Service Planning process which is currently underway and progress in this area will be a priority for hospital groups throughout next year.