Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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91. To ask the Minister for Health the status of his provision of arthritis-specific front-line staff during his period as Minister for Health, including consultants, clinical nurse specialists, advanced nurse practitioners, physiotherapists and occupational therapists; the numbers in situ; if he will add to their number, with a particular focus on addressing the long waiting lists for those persons who are undiagnosed and untreated and living every day with crippling pain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3939/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I met with Arthritis Ireland previously where the issue of Arthritis Champions was discussed. A model of care is being developed by the National Clinical Programme for Rheumatology and is currently undergoing the final stages of consultation/sign off prior to launch. The objectives of Arthritis Ireland will be considered by the National Clinical Programme for Rheumatology in its ongoing work to develop a model of care.

The proposed model of care will determine the service developments and associated personnel requirements which will best support the needs of patients requiring Rheumatology treatments and supports the delivery of a seamless, responsive and flexible system of patient care coordinated by the Consultant.

Even though health budgets have been tight in recent years, this Government has increased the number of consultant rheumatologists by 7 (or 25%) and put in place 22 musculoskeletal specialist physiotherapists. A further €200k is being provided in 2006 to expand the MSK programme, and this will increase to €400k in 2017. The National Clinical Programme for Rheumatology has submitted a business case based on the phased implementation of 12 ANP and 29 CNS posts nationally in order to implement nurse-led initiatives for patients with inflammatory arthritis. This will bring service provision for arthritis and allied conditions in line with evidence-based practice and international standards of care.

We need to reduce waiting times, improve the quality of services and ensure that they are standardised across all regions to the greatest extent possible. I am pleased to see that the number of rheumatology patients waiting more than a year to be seen has decreased in November and December 2015.

As the specific questions raised by the Deputy are matters for the Health Service Executive, I have therefore 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.