Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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266. To ask the Minister for Health the proposals he has to provide a much better level of orthopaedic services for persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan due to unacceptable waiting lists at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12038/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As of 28 April 2016, there were approximately 300 patients waiting for orthopaedic outpatient appointments for hospitals in the RCSI Hospital Group which includes Cavan General Hospital and Monaghan Hospital. However, 135 (45%) of these patients have been waiting <6 months. 62 patients (20.9%) on the waiting list have been waiting over 15 months. There are 345 patients waiting for orthopaedic outpatient appointments for Our Lady's Hospital Navan. 300 (87%) of these patients are waiting <6 months and no patients are waiting more than 15 months.

The Department of Health and the HSE recognise that there are resource availability and structural challenges which impact on individual specialties and hospital sites.

The 2016 HSE Service Plan undertakes to maintaining 2015 levels of service in respect of scheduled care and continues to address waiting times with Hospital Groups as part of the regular performance and accountability process. The HSE has established a Scheduled Care Governance Group to coordinate key initiatives to reduce waiting list numbers. In 2016, the HSE is focussing on key activities including:

- 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 appointment and 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.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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267. To ask the Minister for Health the proposals he has to provide additional ear nose and throat services in counties Cavan and Monaghan due to delays in patients accessing treatment at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12039/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As of 28 April 2016, there were approximately 1,345 patients waiting for ENT outpatient appointments for hospitals in the RCSI Hospital Group which includes Cavan General Hospital and Monaghan Hospital. However, 656 (48.7%) of these patients have been waiting <6 months. 228 patients (16.9%) on the waiting list have been waiting over 15 months.

The Department of Health and the HSE recognise that there are resource availability and structural challenges which impact on individual specialties and hospital sites. In order to address recognised deficits in capacity to meet demand for ENT services in the Cavan-Monaghan area, and in the wider North-Eastern area, a Cross Border Service Level Agreement is in place with hospitals in Newry and Craigavon.

The 2016 HSE Service Plan undertakes to maintaining 2015 levels of service in respect of scheduled care and continues to address waiting times with Hospital Groups as part of the regular performance and accountability process. The HSE has established a Scheduled Care Governance Group to coordinate key initiatives to reduce waiting list numbers. In 2016, the HSE is focussing on key activities including:

- 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 appointment and 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.