Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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364. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children in each grade on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment in a hospital (details supplied) in tabular form; the length of time they are waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50409/18]

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. This year has seen ongoing improvements with the number of patients waiting for inpatient and daycase procedures (IPDC), now at 72,000 from the peak of 86,100 in July 2017. This represents a 16% reduction in the overall number of patients waiting for an inpatient or day case procedure.

In Budget 2019 the Government has further increased investment in this area, with funding to the NTPF to increase from €55m in 2018 to €75m in 2019.

My Department is working closely with the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the HSE to finalise a coherent Waiting List Action Plan for 2019.

In 2019, the NTPF will continue to work closely with Hospital Groups, inviting proposals to improve access for patients waiting for either Inpatient/Daycase or Outpatient procedures. NTPF authorisations are made in respect of the longest waiting patients first.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows.

Waiting List - Orthodontic Treatment - Letterkenny University Hospital

The NTPF have confirmed that there are currently no children at Letterkenny University Hospital waiting under the IPDC specialties of maxillo-facial, oral surgery, or dental surgery, as of the 1st of November.

There are no children listed for outpatient appointments under the specialties of oral surgery or dental surgery.

The NTPF confirm that there are 73 children listed for outpatient appointments under the specialty of maxillo-facial at Letterkenny University Hospital. A breakdown by waiting times follows.

Letterkenny General Hospital