Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1456. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which cataract treatments are available in all areas nationally without exception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33801/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In recent years, my Department has worked with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve access for patients waiting for high volume procedures, including cataracts. Ophthalmology services are provided throughout all hospital groups in the country, with cataract removal one of the key procedures carried out as part of this specialty. Waiting list data collated by the NTPF is one indicator of the level of demand for hospital services, including ophthalmology appointments and cataract procedures. The NTPF have advised my Department that at the end of September there were 5,013 patients waiting for a cataract procedure across more than 10 central sites. The attached spreadsheet provides detailed information on the sites that currently hold a cataract waiting list, as well as the number of patients waiting for the procedure by time-band.

A key development in improving access to Ophthalmology services was the opening of a stand-alone high-volume consultant-led cataract theatre by the University of Limerick Hospital Group in Nenagh Hospital in 2018, with the intention that it would facilitate patients from surrounding geographical areas to avail of their treatment there. The impact of such initiatives can be seen the reduction in the waiting times to access cataract procedures since 2017, with the number of patients awaiting a procedure down 68% since July 2017. At the end of September 2020 there were 1,380 patients waiting over 9 months compared to July 2017, when there were 4,371 waiting over 9 months.

My Department continues to work with the HSE and NTPF to monitor waiting times for scheduled care and identify areas where access to services can be improved. In this context it is important to recognise that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic this year. 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 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.

Cataract Waiters by Hospital