Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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151. To ask the Minister for Health when an operation will be provided for a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in issuing a date for the procedure; if the person can undergo the procedure on the treatment purchase fund scheme or in another way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25983/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for the Government.

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 places a particular focus on cataract surgery and includes a commitment that the NTPF will provide 5,000 cataract procedures to patients. In addition, the NTPF commits to offer treatment to all clinically suitable patients waiting more than 9 months for a cataract procedure.

This year, in line with the Action Plan, the HSE is planning to open a dedicated Cataract theatre in Nenagh Hospital in July.

The NTPF authorises public hospitals to offer outsourced treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery. These patients would have been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic. The NTPF advise that they cannot discuss details of individual patients. NTPF authorisations are made in respect of the longest waiting patients first.

The patient may be eligible for treatment under the Cross Border Directive (CBD). The HSE provides information for patients on the CBD on its website which can be accessed at and also by phone at 056 7784551.

In respect to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.