John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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689. To ask the Minister for Health the number of children on the waiting list at Cappagh Hospital for hip operations (details supplied); if the operating theatres are being used to their capacity; if emergency operations can be undertaken elsewhere to reduce the waiting lists; the number of professionals qualified to carry out these operations at the hospital; the number waiting on each list; and his plans to reduce the list in 2019. [1036/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Improving access to hospital treatment is a key priority for government. Budget 2019 announced increased funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund to €75 million, and as a result of this additional funding, my Department is working closely with the NTPF and the HSE to finalise a Scheduled Care Access Plan for inpatients/day case and outpatients for 2019.

In 2019, the NTPF and the HSE will continue to work closely with Hospital Groups, inviting proposals to improve access for patients waiting for either Inpatient/Daycase or Outpatient procedures.

In relation to the particular queries raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.