Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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310. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting a needs assessment in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17932/20]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The recently published Programme for Government document "Our Shared Future" recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.

The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.

As the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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311. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting access to a speech and language therapist in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17933/20]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The recently published Programme for Government document "Our Shared Future" recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.

The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.

As the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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312. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting access to an occupational therapist in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17934/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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313. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on an inpatient waiting list in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17935/20]

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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314. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on an outpatient waiting list in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17936/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 314 together.

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.

The trajectory of the disease means there is now an opportunity for increasing the provision of non-covid care including more routine care. NPHET has since revised its recommendation on the pausing of all non-essential health services, with a recommendation that the delivery of acute care be determined by appropriate clinical and operational decision making.

Application of the essential risk mitigating steps set out in the guidance developed under the auspices of the NPHET Expert Advisory group will have operational implications, which will impact on throughput.

Where possible, hospitals are working to find innovative ways to enable service provision, which include virtual clinics for some outpatient department appointments. The HSE website provides details on services currently available and operational in each hospital on its website. This information is reviewed frequently and provides up-to-date announcements on services available at each site ().

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 24 June. 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.

As the system continues to deliver Covid-19 and non-Covid 19 care side-by-side over a more prolonged period, my Department and the HSE will continue to work closely together to protect essential non-Covid 19 acute care and progress the provision of more routine non Covid-19 care.

The NTPF currently collects and collates information in respect of the Inpatient, Day Case, Planned Procedure (IDPP) and Outpatient (OP) Waiting Lists. National waiting lists data by hospital site and by specialty is published by the NTPF on their website (. ) and is publicly available.

The information requested by the deputy concerning the number of patients on IPDC and outpatient waiting lists in CHO9 is outlined in the attached document.

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