Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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113. To ask the Minister for Health the action being taken to address the inadequate resourcing of adult degenerative spine services at Tallaght and Naas hospitals; the further action being taken to address the long delays for persons awaiting spinal surgery; the action being taken to address the growing numbers on the outpatient list awaiting assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11827/17]

Simon 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 addition, in November, the HSE launched the Strategy for the Design of Integrated Outpatient Services 2016-2020. This strategy seeks to improve waiting times for outpatient services in the long term by restructuring referral pathways and utilising technology to improve service delivery. The HSE has also significantly progressed the development of a draft Outpatient Waiting List Action Plan. In this Plan, the HSE will identify proposals to reduce the number of patients waiting long periods of time for outpatient appointments across all hospitals including Tallaght and Naas Hospitals. I expect to make known the details of the HSE's Outpatient Waiting List Action Plan in the coming weeks.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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114. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which waiting lists for the various procedures are likely to be improved in the course of 2017, having regard to the demographics and the improvements made or to be made in terms of improving staffing levels and facilities and the maximisation of the utilisation of theatre facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12041/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the reduction of waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of the Government’s key priorities, €20 million has been allocated to the NTPF in the Budget 2017, rising to €55 million in 2018. This funding will be dedicated to the provision of daycase and inpatient treatment to patients. Under the NTPF Daycase Initiative 2017, patients will commence receiving appointments for treatment during March.

During 2016, there has been evidence of a considerable increase in demand for health services, as our population grows and ages. In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, the HSE is currently developing Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the area of Inpatient Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. Draft Waiting List Action Plans for Inpatient Daycase and Scoliosis have been submitted. My Department is currently reviewing these plans and engagement is ongoing with the HSE and the NTPF. The HSE has also significantly progressed the development of a draft Outpatient Waiting List Action Plan. In this Plan, the HSE will identify proposals to reduce the number of patients waiting long periods of time for outpatient appointments across all hospitals.

In terms of increasing staffing, from 31st January 2016 - 2017, 135 additional hospital consultants, 216 extra non-consultant hospital doctors and 415 additional nurses and midwives have been employed by the HSE.

More generally, as the Deputy is aware, my Department has commenced a capacity review in line with the Programme for Government commitments. The intention is that this review will be broader than previous exercises that focused solely on acute bed capacity. While the exact parameters of the review are still subject to considerations, I expect that it will seek to take into account, to some degree, other aspects of hospital capacity, including theatres.