Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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385. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the long waiting lists for patients with diabetes type 1 to see a consultant in Letterkenny University Hospital in County Donegal. [42307/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that improving waiting times for out-patients and in-patient care is a key priority for the Government. In January, taking into account current pressures on acute hospital services, I put in place maximum permissible waiting times for in-patient and day case treatment and outpatient appointments of 18 months by 30 June and 15 months by year end. The HSE was provided with additional funding of €51m to ensure that these maximum waiting times would be achieved. The funding provided is intended to maximise capacity across public and voluntary hospitals as well as outsourcing activity where the capacity is not available to meet patient needs within the maximum allowable waiting time.

The HSE is addressing the areas of underachievement of maximum waiting times with Hospital Groups as part of the regular performance and accountability process, as well as seeking the support of the National Clinical Programmes to ensure that the appropriate referral and clinical pathways are used at all times. The main priority is the patients affected by any delays in waiting lists and the HSE will ensure that these patients are prioritised for treatment.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.