Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1870. To ask the Minister for Health if he will clarify details on the pain relief outpatients waiting list report as listed on the NTPF website; his views on whether the numbers listed cannot be correct given that Children’s Health Ireland is not taking referrals; and if he will rectify the age groups listings which are zero to 16, 16 to 64 and over 65 years of age given that Children’s Health Ireland has agreed to keep all chronic pain patients until 18 years of age. [15744/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I recognise that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families.

The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19.

This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in Covid-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.

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 National Waiting List Management Policy is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1871. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting for orthopaedic surgery in Cork University Hospital by length of time waiting in tabular form. [15745/21]

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

The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19.

This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in Covid-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.

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 as 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 outpatient consultations, funding hybrid services where public and private hospitals contribute to the treatment of patients, virtual clinics, and clinical validation.

€240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the National Treatment Purchase Fund. This will be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of measures taken in the context of Covid-19, as well as to address waiting lists.

The National Waiting List Management Policy is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care.

The information requested by the Deputy concerning the number of persons waiting for Orthopaedic surgery in Cork University Hospital by length of time waiting in tabular form is outlined in the attached document.

">Orthopaedic surgery in Cork University Hospital

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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1872. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to reopen trauma theatres in St. Steven’s Hospital, Cork to deal with orthopaedic surgery waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15746/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.