Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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128. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists at Mayo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40404/18]

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 and €50 million was provided to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) in 2018 to secure treatment for patients. The Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan, published last April outlines the combined impact of HSE and NTPF activity in 2018.

Waiting list data from the National Treatment Purchase Fund shows that at the end of August 2018 there were 1,845 patients on the Inpatient/Daycase (IPDC) waiting list at Mayo General Hospital, representing an increase of 407 patients on the same period last year. It is of note that 83% of patients are waiting 9 months or less for treatment.

This year, Mayo General Hospital have submitted proposals to the National Treatment Purchase Fund to facilitate the provision of treatment for 255 long waiting Inpatient/Daycase patients.

Outpatient waiting list data for the end of August, shows that there were 8,244 patients waiting for an outpatient appoint at Mayo General Hospital, representing a slight increase of 4% on the same period last year.

In order to address the issue of growing outpatient waiting list numbers, the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF are in the process of finalising an Outpatient Action Plan for the remainder of 2018. This plan will support the HSE’s compliance with its National Service Plan targets, reduce the growth in the number of patients waiting for outpatient services, improve the accuracy of the waiting list, and trial a number of NTPF funded interventions, including weekend and out of hours clinics.

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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129. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists at University Hospital Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40405/18]

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 and €50 million was provided to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) in 2018 to secure treatment for patients. The Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan, published last April outlines the combined impact of HSE and NTPF activity in 2018.

Waiting list figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund for the end of August 2018 show there were 10,181 patients on the Inpatient/Daycase (IPDC) waiting list, representing a reduction of 14% (1,631 patients) on the same period last year. The past year has seen improvements in the numbers waiting across the 6-24 months timebands. Over the past year, the numbers waiting 9 months or longer for treatment have reduced by 1,400 in real terms and from 41% to 34% of the overall waiting list.

The outpatient waiting list data of the end of August, shows that there were 39,883 patients waiting for an outpatient appointment at Galway University Hospital which is a slight increase of 2% on the same period last year.

This year, Galway University Hospital has submitted proposals to the National Treatment Purchase Fund to facilitate the provision of treatment for almost 900 long waiting Inpatient/Daycase patients and a further 560 outpatients.

In order to address the issue of growing outpatient waiting list numbers, the Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF are in the process of finalising an Outpatient Action Plan for the remainder of 2018. This plan will support the HSE’s compliance with its National Service Plan targets, reduce the growth in the number of patients waiting for outpatient services, improve the accuracy of the waiting list, and trial a number of NTPF funded interventions, including weekend and out of hours clinics.