Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

212. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting orthopaedic appointments at each relevant hospital; the waiting times in each hospital for those graded as routine and those graded as urgent and who are already on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9150/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

213. To ask the Minister for Health the average waiting time for an orthopaedic appointment at each relevant hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9151/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 212 and 213 together.

As these are service matters, 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.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

214. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address waiting times for orthopaedic appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9152/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred.

In 2016, the HSE is focusing on a number of key activities to manage waiting lists more effectively, thereby improving patient waiting times. These include:

- ensuring that chronological scheduling is adhered to;

- putting in place administrative and clinical validation procedures to ensure that patients are available for treatment;

- relocating high-volume low complexity surgeries to smaller hospitals; and

- designating an improvement lead for each hospital group, to provide support in meeting national targets for appointments and treatment

Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved.