Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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185. To ask the Minister for Health the total number of locations at which treatment for cataracts, spina bifida and scoliosis can be treated in this country, public or private, and is readily available or available the on national treatment purchase scheme; the number of patients currently being treated at such locations; the extent to which waiting lists are being reduced as a result; the cost differential between public and private treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39530/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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198. To ask the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for cataract surgery in each year over the past four years to date; the number of persons who have received access to surgery in the same period; the number of persons waiting 12 months or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39610/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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202. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which the National Treatment Purchase Fund for patients in need of cataract treatment may be available within the jurisdiction; if, in such circumstances, it involved long waiting periods; if the HSE might make some financial contribution to those forced to seek treatment privately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39615/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 185, 198 and 202 together.

It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden this places on patients and their families.

As part of the multi-annual approach to reducing waiting lists, and just as importantly the length of time that patients are waiting, I published the 2024 Waiting List Action Plan on 27th March. Total funding of €360 million has been provided for the plan this year which sets out 19 Actions across three themes: Delivering Capacity, Reforming Scheduled Care and Enabling Scheduled Care Reform.

The first Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) was implemented in late 2021, as part of a multi-annual approach encompassing short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists and waiting times.

The 2024 Plan builds on the work of previous plans which have achieved significant progress in overall waiting list reduction and in addressing long waiting times, against a backdrop of significantly increased demand for scheduled care services. This year’s plan aims to achieve a reduction in the overall number of patients on waiting lists while three of the four overarching targets in the Plan are specifically focused on improving waiting times.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an Inpatient/Day case or Outpatient waiting list.

The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on a waiting list. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.

For 2024, the NTPF has approved 6 Insourcing Cataracts initiatives which will facilitate treatment for 3,315 patients on cataracts waiting lists. The NTPF has also approved 5 Insourcing Ophthalmology Outpatient initiatives so far in 2024 which will provide 6,295 additional appointments for patients on Ophthalmology waiting lists.

With regard to the information requested by the Deputy concerning cataract waiting lists, the following table, containing information provided by the NTPF, outlines the total waiting list for cataract surgery including the number of persons waiting 12 months or more, in each year over the past four years and to date in 2024.

There were 6,141 patients on the public waiting list for cataract surgery as at the end of August 2024. While the number of patients on the waiting list for cataract procedures nationally has increased since the end of 2023, the number of patients waiting over 12 months has reduced in the same period.

In regard to the query posed by the Deputy asking if the HSE might make some financial contribution to those forced to seek treatment privately, I wish to clarify that treatment accessed in a private hospital or clinic within the State and paid for privately by the patient, is not eligible for reimbursement by the HSE or the Department of Health.

In relation to the other aspects of the queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Cataract Procedure Waiting List 2020 to 2023 and August 2024