Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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827. To ask the Minister for Health the progress in dealing with all waiting lists for various procedures in public hospitals nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24089/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer most elective scheduled care activity. 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 the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) in accordance with the advice of the World Health Organization, and the National Action Plan published on 16 March. The trajectory of the disease means there is now an opportunity for increasing the provision of non-Covid care including more routine care and services have resumed in line with NPHET recommendations.

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. Further detail regarding the phases of service resumption are contained in the HSE’s ‘A Safe Return to Health Services’ document, published on their website on 22 July.

The HSE is seeking to optimise productivity through alternative work practices such as telemedicine and the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.

The HSE has advised that in order to continue to provide access for patients there has been considerable growth and investment in virtual outpatient consultations for many specialties across the system. While figures for August are not yet available, the HSE advise that a total of 73,198 virtual outpatient consultations took place in July. This represents 27% of the overall OPD activity for July (266,349).

The number of patients awaiting an Inpatient or Day Case (IPDC) procedure decreased by 2,663 (-3%) at the end of August when compared to the end of July waiting list. While year to date the IPDC waiting list has grown by 17% (up 11,057 since end December 2019), the number of patients actively waiting has continued to fall since May. Part of the reason for the decrease in the numbers waiting is an increase in the number of patients being moved on to the TCI list (To Come In). The consistent increase in the number of patients on the TCI list since April is indicative of increased elective activity, and results in the removal of patients from the active IPDC waiting list.

The HSE is also currently working to secure access to private hospital facilities for urgent and time critical procedures. A procurement process is currently in train to secure access to additional acute services and diagnostic capacity from private providers which is required to address capacity needs over the next two years.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has recommenced arranging treatment for patients in both private and public hospitals. At the end of August, 19,218 IPDC treatments had been arranged. The NTPF had also arranged 4,604 G.I. Scopes. In terms of Outpatients, the NTPF had approved in principal 66,096 Outpatient appointments.

The NTPF is currently reviewing strategies to maximise activity and benefit for patients, to include, increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, funding hybrid services where public and private hospitals contribute to the treatment of patients, virtual clinics and clinical validation.