Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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72. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the necessary provision of additional capacity at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh is given urgent consideration; when the proposed project will proceed to the next stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7900/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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NTPF data shows that Orthopaedics is the speciality with the largest number of patients waiting for in-patient/day case treatment.

I have always advocated that Cappagh can be part of the solution to tackle waiting lists for adults and paediatrics.

The HSE has advised that a proposal for a project to develop additional capacity at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh is currently being considered.

Just last Friday I went out to visit Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital and discussed this major proposal with management and clinicians at the hospital.

The proposed project will involve the provision of an additional 10 bed High Dependency Unit, 75 bed ward, 3 theatres & radiology refurbishments.

A Strategic Assessment Report will be undertaken in relation to this proposal.

The final decision to proceed with this project cannot be made until it progresses through a number of approval stages, in line with the Public Spending Code.

I would also like to point to a €1.65m initiative introduced under the Access to Care Programme in 2021. It enables the NOHC to undertake non-complex surgery for paediatric patients aged 2 years and over, addressing the waiting lists at CHI (Temple Street). NOHC estimates that they will complete 640 non-complex in-patient surgeries for CHI in 2022.