Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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373. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the five-year waiting list in the ENT department at University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5551/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Reducing waiting times for patients is one of the Government's key priorities.

I am advised by the HSE that the numbers of patients waiting for an in-patient or day case procedure at University Hospital Limerick reduced in 2017. This was achieved through a number of separate initiatives, including increased theatre sessions, outsourcing and a validation exercise for all patients waiting greater than 6 months.

Furthermore, there has been a significant improvement in the wait time for ENT outpatient appointments across UL Hospitals Group in the last two years, with the current wait time for an ENT outpatient appointment at 24 months. There are currently four patients in the 21 – 24 month wait time category and it is expected they will be offered appointments this month (February).

Outpatient waiting lists, including ENT lists, are managed centrally at UL Hospitals Group. All patients who are waiting are prioritised according to clinical need. Beyond this, UL Hospitals Group will continue to focus on seeing and treating those who have been waiting the longest.

I acknowledge that the Outpatient Waiting List remains a challenge that needs to be addressed. A number of steps, including the commencement of a national waiting list validation project by the HSE, are being taken to ensure that the lists are accurate and these efforts are to intensify in the coming months.

Finally, UL Hospitals Group will continue to work closely with the HSE and NTPF during 2018 to manage waiting lists across the Group.