David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

303. To ask the Minister for Health the number of hospital-initiated scheduled care cancellations, by appointment type, for each quarter and for September for each year 2022-2023 to date, inclusive by hospital group and hospital, in tabular form. [45844/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.

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.

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.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

304. To ask the Minister for Health the number of cancer-related appointments and procedures that were cancelled for each quarter and for September for each year 2022-2023 to date, inclusive, by hospital, for adults and for children, in tabular form. [45845/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.