Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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384. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the loss of 109 referrals to the national gender service; the steps taken to ensure this system failure is not repeated; the way in which he plans to address the delays for those that were waiting and should have had their first initial visit by now; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47334/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Last week Ireland East Hospital Group notified officials of my Department of an incident whereby over 100 patients of the National Gender Service at St. Columcille’s Hospital, Loughlinstown who should have been given an appointment for their initial visit, had not as yet received an appointment date.

This is a serious incident which has resulted in regrettable delays for patients waiting for their initial appointment to the Service. However, I have been advised that the National Gender Service at St. Columcille’s Hospital has conducted a full review of their service and put a plan of corrective action in place. All of the patients concerned have been contacted to advise them of the incident and to assure them that they have been reinstated correctly onto the waiting list.

The Service has also arranged for each person affected to be assigned a case manager over the coming weeks.

Furthermore, the Service will also be arranging extra clinics in order to minimise any increase in waiting times.

Finally, I wish to assure the Deputy that officials of my Department will continue to keep this matter under review through the regular governance meetings which are held with the HSE.