Written answers

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Department of Health

Hospital Waiting Lists

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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2548. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which preparations are in hand to overhaul backlogs and waiting lists in the health system that have become seriously more evident during the Covid-19 pandemic; when visible manifestations of such proposals are likely to become evident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38106/21]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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2556. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which the treatment purchase scheme will play a role in a reduction in the currently identified hospital waiting lists across all disciplines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38114/21]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2548 and 2556 together.

It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last sixteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack.

While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021, and the resultant curtailment of acute hospital services, is reflected in the most recently available waiting list figures to 13thMay 2021.

On 23 March 2021 the HSE published the “Safe Return to Health Services Plan”, outlining a three phased approach for the proposed restoration of services across Community Services, Acute Hospital Operations, Cancer Services and Screening Services. It sets target times for their safe return and details the conditions and challenges that will have to be met. However, the implementation of this plan was suspended pending the resolution of the recent ransomware attack, which had a significant impact on acute hospitals.

The HSE has been working since 14thMay last to recover the effects of the cyber attack on its systems. The HSE advise that at present most systems are operational and services are returning to normal activity. There is a challenge in back entering data and there are still a number of areas of ongoing concern. The HSE was already seeking to recover from the Covid peak in the first quarter of this year and the ransomware attack has delayed this and had the effect of increasing access delays for services. My Department does not have full access to information on the impact of this ransomware attack on elective waiting lists but will provide an update as soon as one is available.

An additional €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 NTPF. This is to be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of infection control measures taken in the context of COVID-19, as well as addressing backlogs in waiting lists.

In addition to the €30 million noted above the National Treatment Purchase Fund has a further allocation of €100 million for 2021. This funding is for the purpose of commissioning Outpatient appointments, Inpatient and Day Case procedures and Emergency Department supports.

While commissioning was impacted by the surge of COVID-19 in January of this year, and the subsequent restrictions and pressures in public hospitals, and the recent cyberattack the NTPF has been working closely with public hospitals to continue to outsource treatment for patients in private hospitals and where feasible to fund extra clinics at weekends and evenings in public hospitals to address waiting lists. In addition, there is a focus on outsourcing Outpatient appointments in 2021 and where appropriate to fund “see and treat” packages of care in a number of specialties.

My Department, the HSE and the NTPF are currently working on a Multiannual Waiting List Plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years.

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