Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which deficiencies in services have been identified as a contributory factor at various levels throughout the public general hospital system in the context of hospital waiting lists, overcrowding at accident and emergency and bed shortages; the degree to which the adequacy of numbers in respect of beds, consultants, hospital doctors, general practitioners and nurses has been identified as the primary or secondary cause of backlogs and waiting lists; the extent to which provision can be made to address these issues in line with best practice throughout the European Union and globally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27853/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I am very aware of the interrelated nature of the challenges our health service faces. As a consequence, I have prioritised a range of policy and operational initiatives to address waiting lists, Emergency Department overcrowding, bed capacity and staff recruitment.

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. The HSE has published, and is implementing Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services, focused on longest-waiting patients.

In relation to Emergency Departments, the HSE is implementing a Roadmap towards improving patient ED experience and reducing trolley wait times. In addition, planning for next winter has commenced.

My Department has also commenced a capacity review, in line with the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment. The review will take a whole-of-system approach, and will examine key elements of primary and community care infrastructure, in addition to hospital facilities. Further, my Department and the HSE are implementing a range of initiatives to increase the medical and nursing workforce.

The Committee on the Future of Health Care has also made a series of recommendations, including specific measures to tackle waiting times and ED overcrowding. I look forward to considering the report and its recommendations in full.