Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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1264. To ask the Minister for Health if a date for surgery will be provided for a person (details supplied). [15825/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to pause most elective scheduled care activity with effect from the end March 2020. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and in accordance with World Health Organisation guidelines, and the National Action Plan.

To ensure services are re-introduced in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, the HSE launched its Strategic Framework for ‘Service Continuity in a Covid Environment’ on 24th June 2020. Its implementation will ensure service resumption is done in an integrated way. This will involve a phased approach to ensure community services are strengthened. The Framework will also consolidate new ways of working and build on international knowledge. The HSE is currently developing a Service Continuity Roadmap for the resumption of services across the health system. My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund are currently working together to evaluate the impact of Covid 19 on Scheduled Care waiting lists, in order to be prepared to address pent up demand.

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The National Waiting List Management Policy is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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1265. To ask the Minister for Health if Beaumont Hospital has an internal waiting list to access a HSE diabetes pump application form; if patients have to wait for extended periods before the hospital submits the applications to the HSE; the reason for the internal application form waiting lists and submission delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15839/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the matter raised by the Deputy is a service delivery matter, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.