Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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139. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting cataract surgery in County Limerick; the average waiting times for such procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39190/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Waiting list figures provided by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) advise that at the end of August there were 665 patients on the Cataract waiting list in University Hospital Limerick, waiting an average of 167 days.

Waiting list figures have improved at University Hospital Limerick. In July 2017 there were 1,025 patients awaiting cataract surgery at University Hospital Limerick, this number fell to 782 by end December 2017, during this period 454 patients were added to the waiting list.

From the end of December 2017 to the end of August 2018, the numbers waiting fell by further 117 patients while in the same period, 389 patients have been added to the UHL cataracts waiting list.

Reducing waiting times for Cataract surgery remains a top priority in 2018. Under the Inpatient Day Case Action Plan, launched in April, the NTPF commits to offer treatment to all clinically suitable patients waiting more than 9 months for a cataract procedure.

The Action Plan 25% (5,000 out of 20,000) of the planned National Treatment Purchase Fund procedures has been allocated for treatment for cataract patients.

In addition, under the Plan my Department continues to work with the HSE and the NTPF to identify sustainable initiatives to improve waiting times. In line with the Action Plan, July marked the opening of a dedicated Cataract theatre in Nenagh Hospital. The HSE advise that since the service commenced, 53 patients have been treated and it is expected that over 200 cataract procedures will be undertaken by year end.

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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140. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients awaiting colonoscopy and gastroscopy examinations, respectively in County Louth; the average waiting times for such procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39191/18]

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 National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to provide treatment for patients. Under the Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan, which was launched in April 2018, the NTPF will arrange 4,000 Gastrointestinal Scopes this year.

The NTPF advise that the waiting list for Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy in County Louth is:

Average waiting time is 102 days.