Written answers

Tuesday, 7 February 2017

Department of Health

Hospital Waiting Lists

Photo of Frank O'RourkeFrank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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377. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of persons awaiting spinal surgery at Tallaght and Naas Hospitals and the growing number of outpatients awaiting assessment; the action he is taking to address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5397/17]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.

I wish to assure the Deputy that action is being taken to address the number of persons awaiting spinal surgery throughout the country. The €40 million Winter Initiative 2016/2017 includes a €7m fund for a targeted waiting list programme for orthopaedics, spinal and scoliosis procedures. Specific actions included provision of €3m for additional orthopaedic procedures at the National Tertiary Referral Centre at Cappagh for patients referred from Tallaght, Tullamore, Beaumont and St. James Hospitals and it is of note that 521 additional orthopaedic patients received treatment in Cappagh by year end 2016 as a result of this funding.

In relation to the growing number of out-patients awaiting assessment, I wish to advise the Deputy that, in November 2016, the HSE launched the Strategy for the design of Integrated Outpatient Services 2016-2020. It seeks to improve waiting times for outpatient services by enhancing patient referral pathways and utilising technology to enable better planning.

Furthermore, in December 2016, my Department wrote to the HSE requesting that it submit in January a Waiting List Action Plan for 2017 in respect of both the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List and the Outpatient Waiting List. The focus of these plans should be to ensure that no patient is waiting more than 15 months on either list by the end of October, including those awaiting gynaecological appointments and procedures. The HSE has been requested to develop the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List Action Plan in conjunction with and supported by the NTPF's proposal for utilisation of the remaining €10m of 2017 funding for patient treatment. I expect to make known the details of both plans in the coming weeks.

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