Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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54. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons whose elective surgery was cancelled or rescheduled more than once in 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4568/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The National ED Escalation Framework sets out procedures to be followed in hospitals during periods of high demand for emergency care, to ensure that safe care is provided to all patients. In order to respond to surges in ED demand, under the Framework, hospital managers may, in consultation with the relevant clinical leads, review and cancel non-urgent planned electives, where appropriate. This allows both beds and staff to be redeployed to alleviate pressure in the ED.

The HSE intends to undertake a review of the Escalation Framework in the coming months to ensure its effectiveness. It is essential that hospitals continue to improve how they manage, and balance, the demand for emergency care with the planning of elective procedures, to minimise the impact on patients.

In addition, it is important that the HSE continues to improve its processes to minimise the number of sessions lost when patients cancel or do not attend for their procedures.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.