Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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699. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which any revision has identified weaknesses in the health services resulting in waiting lists for various procedures including orthopaedic and coronary; if he expects an improvement in the situation arising therefrom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27170/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The numbers of patients currently on waiting lists has continued to increase in the first half of 2016. As such it is clear that the health system is currently dealing with a considerable demand for health services that must be planned for and effectively managed. The Department and HSE are committed to driving the necessary process improvements and resources to tackle this issue.

The HSE has developed an Action Plan aimed at reducing the number of patients on waiting lists to be implemented in the latter half of 2016. The focus of this Plan is on those waiting the longest for inpatient or daycase procedures and the HSE is committed to reducing by half, the number of patients waiting over 18 months for this type of procedure. This will be achieved through a combination of strict adherence to chronological scheduling, clinical validation and the implementation of process improvement plans at hospital level.

The Winter Initiative 2016-2017 includes a €7 million fund for a targeted waiting list programme to reduce the numbers of patients waiting for orthopaedic, spinal and scoliosis procedures in designated sites.

The Programme for Partnership Government (PfPG) clearly commits €50 million in 2017 for waiting list initiatives, with at least €15 million of this allocated specifically to the NTPF. The Department of Health is working closely with the HSE and the NTPF to develop specific initiatives focused on reducing waiting lists in 2017 in accordance with the PfPG's commitments.