Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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623. To ask the Minister for Health the average waiting time to see a consultant paediatric otolaryngologist at CHI, Temple Street, Dublin. [41413/20]

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.

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 Purchase 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.

In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the attached table provided by the NTPF shows the Outpatient waiting list for Otolaryngology at CHI Temple Street by time band at the end of October 2020. The NTPF has also advised that the average waiting time for a first Outpatient appointment with a paediatric otolaryngologist at Temple Street Hospital is 345 days.

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