Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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894. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which an evaluation has been done in respect of the full staff requirements to tackle and eliminate hospital waiting lists in respect of all procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51262/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-2023 committed to developing a Multi-Annual Waiting Lists Reduction Plan. My Department, the HSE and the NTPF is working on that Plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and including representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund.  

While the plan is under development, it is likely to recognise that staff are the health service's greatest resource and that strategic workforce planning and investment will be key to its success.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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895. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients currently awaiting cardiovascular treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51263/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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896. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on orthopaedic waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51264/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 895 and 896 together.

It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last nineteen 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 associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times.

My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are focusing on improving access to elective care in order to reduce waiting times for patients. These plans 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, providing virtual clinics and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.

On the 7^thOctober I published the Acute Waiting List Action Plan. This plan, to run until December 2021, has a series of targeted measures that are designed to address the growth in waiting lists caused by Covid-19 and the cyber-attack.

In addition, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund. The plan will be informed by the lessons learned from the successful Vaccine Taskforce.

For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.

The information requested by the Deputy concerning, the number of patients currently on orthopaedic waiting lists, is outlined in the attached document. In relation the information requested by the Deputy concerning, the number of patients currently awaiting cardiovascular treatment, the NTPF have advised my Department that, there is no specific cardiovascular specialty. However, the attached document outlines the IPDC waiting list for cardiovascular-related procedures which include: Cardiology, Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery and Paediatric Cardiology.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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897. To ask the Minister for Health the degree to which cancer patients awaiting treatment are able to receive treatment as and when required; the extent of any waiting lists in this category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51265/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The National Action Plan on Covid-19 identified the continued provision of cancer care as a priority. Cancer services continue to operate in line with guidance issued by the HSE's National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP), including in relation to physical distancing and infection control measures.

The NCCP is continuing to closely monitor trends in numbers coming forward to diagnostic services, and the level of attendances for appointments for treatment.

- from January–September this year, GP e-referrals are at 126% of 2019 (pre-Covid) activity; and  

- attendances at Rapid Access Clinics from January–August 2021 (32,818) are at 97% of 2019 levels (33,935).

With regard to cancer treatment, latest available figures indicate that:

- the number of patients receiving medical oncology treatment from January–July this year stands at 88% of the comparable 2019 figure;

- radiation oncology from January–July is at 77% of the 2019 figure; and

- surgical oncology from January–July is at 72% of the 2019 figure.  

These figures do not include private hospital activity used to alleviate pressure on cancer services, so the overall figures are higher.  Also, the ransomware attack on the health services in May impacted on mid-Summer throughput, particularly in regard to radiation oncology.

As part of Budget 2021, an extra €20m was allocated for the continued implementation of the National Cancer Strategy this year. Additional funding of €12m was also allocated this year for the restoration of cancer services to 95% of 2019 (pre-Covid) levels. This funding is being used to support hospitals in addressing backlogs, to extend clinic times, to provide additional clinics, to increase diagnostic capacity and to provide locum/temporary support.

I have now secured a further €20m in Budget 2022 to progress the delivery of the National Cancer Strategy and this will have a significant impact on access to cancer diagnostics, treatment and support to patients across their cancer journey.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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898. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which endoscopy facilities are sufficiently and readily available to ensure the minimisation of waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51266/21]

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 nineteen 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 associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times.

My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are focusing on improving access to elective care in order to reduce waiting times for patients. These plans 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, providing virtual clinics and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.

On the 7th October I published the Acute Waiting List Action Plan. This plan, to run until December 2021, has a series of targeted measures that are designed to address the growth in waiting lists caused by Covid-19 and the cyber-attack.

In addition, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund. The plan will be informed by the lessons learned from the successful Vaccine Taskforce.   

For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services. 

In relation to the particular query raised, concerning the extent to which endoscopy facilities are sufficiently and readily available to ensure the minimisation of waiting lists as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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899. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which his Department has identified the most sensitive and pressing hospital waiting lists; if his Department has identified a specific period within which to deal with all such patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51267/21]

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 nineteen 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 associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times.

My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are focusing on improving access to elective care in order to reduce waiting times for patients. These plans 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, providing virtual clinics and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.

On the 7^thOctober I published the Acute Waiting List Action Plan. This plan, to run until December 2021, has a series of targeted measures that are designed to address the growth in waiting lists caused by Covid-19 and the cyber-attack.

In addition, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund. The plan will be informed by the lessons learned from the successful Vaccine Taskforce.

For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.