Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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365. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for cataract surgery in Cork University Hospital and South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29194/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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 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.

Cork University Hospital (CUH) advise that patients requiring Inpatient/Daycase ophthalmology treatment are referred to South Infirmary Hospital Cork and held on their waiting list.

The NTPF advise that the active Inpatient/Daycase waiting list for South Infirmary Hospital Cork shows that there are 539 patients on the waiting list for cataract surgery and of these, 79% of patients are waiting 6 months or less.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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366. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for back surgery in CUMH; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29195/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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 Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan outlines the combined impact of HSE and NTPF activity in 2018.

In 2018 the NTPF will provide 22,000 inpatient day case procedures through both insourcing and outsourcing, while the HSE will deliver 1.14 million hospital operations or procedures.

The NTPF advise that the active Inpatient/Daycase waiting list for Cork University Hospital shows that there are 26 patients on the waiting list for spinal procedures and of these, 23 are waiting 3 months or less.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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367. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for hip surgery in the CUMH and South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29196/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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 Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan outlines the combined impact of HSE and NTPF activity in 2018.

In 2018 the NTPF will provide 22,000 inpatient day case procedures through both insourcing and outsourcing, while the HSE will deliver 1.14 million hospital operations or procedures.

The Action Plan includes a particular focus on hip and knee replacements, and commits to offering procedures to all patients waiting more than 9 months for a hip and/or knee replacement in 2018, if clinically suitable for treatment in an outsourced facility.

The NTPF advises that the active Inpatient/Daycase waiting list for South Infirmary Hospital Cork shows that there are 92 patients on the waiting list for hip surgery and of these, 87% are waiting 6 months or less. Currently, there no waiters for hip surgery at CUMH.