Written answers

Tuesday, 12 June 2018

Department of Health

Hospital Waiting Lists Data

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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896. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting times for surgery for hip and knee replacements after the initial outpatients consultation by an orthopaedic consultant in Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25502/18]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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924. To ask the Minister for Health the waiting times to be seen by an orthopaedic consultant for an initial hip and knee consultation in Letterkenny University Hospital, County Donegal for routine and urgent referrals, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25554/18]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 896 and 924 together.

Improving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and in 2018 €50 million was allocated to the NTPF to provide treatment for patients.

The recently launched Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan outlines the combined impact of HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) activity in 2018. The Action Plan includes a focus on orthopaedic patients with 800 of the 20,000 NTPF funded procedures planned for patients requiring hip/knee replacements.

In 2018, under the Plan, all clinically suitable patients waiting over 9 months for a hip/knee replacement will be offered treatment this year.

Information provided by the NTPF (tables attached) set out (i) the Outpatient waiting list figures for patients awaiting an appointment to see an orthopaedic specialist/consultant at Letterkenny University Hospital; and (ii) waiting list figures for patients who have been placed on Inpatient/Daycase waiting list (post initial Outpatients consultation) for hip & knee replacements at Letterkenny University Hospital.

Sum of CountColumn Labels
Row Labels0-3 Months3-6 Months6-9 Months9-12 Months12-15 Months15-18 Months18+ MonthsGrand Total
Revision of total arthroplasty of hip11215
Total arthroplasty of hip, unilateral181115311453
Total arthroplasty of knee, unilateral2086212443
Grand Total3919227239101

The NTPF advise:

A hip/knee arthroplasty usually refers to a surgical replacement of the hip/knee joint with an artificial prosthesis.

A patient can be listed for one side i.e. a unilateral.

A patient can also be listed for a bilateral replacement i.e. the patient needs both hips replaced.

When a patient needs both hips replaced this can be done in a single hospital admission during one surgery i.e. the patient has only one anaesthetic (not all surgeons do this and not all patients are clinically

suitable for this option), or the patient can be treated by carrying out two separate operations.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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897. To ask the Minister for Health if patients that have undergone bariatric surgery are entitled to a follow-up surgery to remove excess skin; the number of patients on the waiting list for assessment for skin removal surgery; the length of time they have been waiting; the number of patients that have been assessed and referred for this surgery awaiting treatment; the length of time they have been waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25507/18]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

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