Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Minister for Health the targets in place for reducing outpatient waiting times in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, in 2017. [12126/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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This Government is committed to reducing waiting times for patients, both for patients waiting for inpatient or daycase procedures and for outpatient appointments. 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.

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 the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore.

I expect to make known the details of the HSE's Outpatient Waiting List Action Plan in the coming weeks.