Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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141. To ask the Minister for Health the current situation regarding rheumatology treatment in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33455/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer most scheduled care activity in March, April, and May of this year. 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 Organisation.

The HSE has advised my Department that during the first stage of COVID-19 in March, Mayo University Hospital (MUH) maintained services for time-critical rheumatology day cases, while outpatient rheumatology services were at the time suspended and have since resumed. Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols. MUH have advised that while COVID-19 constraints mean there are currently fewer face-to-face attendances, they do have the facilities for virtual clinics and will be progressing the implementation of these clinics in the coming weeks.

MUH have advised that they continue to seek ways to further improve rheumatology services, and to this end are engaging with the HSE to identify staffing resources that would benefit waiting times, such as an advanced nurse practitioners.

The Saolta Hospital Group Rheumatology IPDC & OPD waiting lists are outlined in the attached document. According to the latest NTPF figures, there are 28 patients with an area of residence in County Mayo, on the IPDC rheumatology waiting list. This accounts for 6% of the Saolta Hospital Group IPDC rheumatology waiting list. There are 443 patients with an area of residence in County Mayo, on the Outpatient rheumatology waiting list. This accounts for 15% of the Saolta Hospital Group OPD rheumatology waiting list.

Saolta Hospital Group Rheumatology IPDC Waiting List

Saolta Hospital Group Rheumatology OPD Waiting List

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to provide resources to the HSE to reduce waiting time for pain management services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33537/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer most routine scheduled care activity in March, April, and May of this year. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and urgent time-critical 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 Organisation.

Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.

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

In addition, the National Treatment Purchas Fund (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.

The NTPF have advised my department that they have approved 16 Pain Relief Insourcing Initiatives (12 IPDC & 4 OPD) for funding for 2020 which will facilitate treatment for over 1,500 patients on pain relief waiting lists throughout the country.

The latest available NTPF figures (September 2020) show 4,658 patients on the IPDC Pain Relief waiting list. This list has shown a consistent decrease every month since May 2020, when it peaked at 4,983. The current figure represents a 7% decrease on the May figure.

There are currently 12,289 patients on the OPD Pain Relief waiting list. This compares to a figure of 11,853 for September 2019.