John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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129. To ask the Minister for Health to urgently examine and to put in place adequate resources to improve the long orthopaedic waiting times, currently standing at 12 to 18 months for urgent cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15101/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Improving access for patients is a key objective for our health services. The 2016 HSE Service Plan undertakes to maintain 2015 levels of service in respect of scheduled care and to continue to address waiting times as part of the regular performance and accountability process. The HSE seeks to ensure that those whose clinical needs are most urgent are prioritised accordingly, whilst managing the needs of those who have been waiting longest for routine treatment in chronological order. As of 31 May 2016 there were 10,634 people on the waiting list for Orthopaedic procedures. 38.5% (4094) are waiting less than 3 months. 62.1% (6605) people are waiting less than 6 months. 5.3% (561) are waiting in excess of 15 months which is the maximum waiting time determined by the previous Minister for Health.

A Scheduled Care Governance Group has been established in the HSE to coordinate key initiatives to reduce waiting times and the number of patients awaiting treatment. Actions overseen by this Group include driving greater adherence to chronological scheduling, relocation of low complexity surgical procedures to smaller hospitals and administrative and clinical validation procedures to ensure that patients are available for treatment.

Each Hospital Group has been mandated to designate a key person to lead and support waiting list management improvements, so as to advance towards compliance with maximum waiting times.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to provide €15m to the NTPF in 2017 to address waiting lists and my Department will engage with the NTPF and the HSE regarding the development of this initiative.

In relation to the specific question raised, 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.