It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer most routine scheduled care activity in March, April, and May of this year. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and urgent time-critical work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) in accordance with the advice of the World Health Organisation.
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.
The HSE continues to optimise productivity through alternative work practices such as the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.
In addition the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is currently reviewing strategies to maximise activity and benefit for patients, to 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, funding hybrid services where public and private hospitals contribute to the treatment of patients, virtual clinics and clinical validation.
In addition to core HSE activity, the NTPF have advised my department that they have also approved 8 Hip-Replacement Insourcing initiatives and 14 Hip-Replacement Outsourcing initiatives for funding so far in 2020, which will facilitate treatment for over 1,200 patients on hip replacement waiting lists.
The data requested by the Deputy concerning the waiting list for hip replacements, is outlined in the attached document.
Total IPDC Waiters for Hip Replacement by Hospital by Wait Time Band as at 24/09/2020
Sum of Total
|
Column Labels
|
|
|
|
|
Row Labels
|
0-9 Months
|
9-15 Months
|
15-18 Months
|
18 Months +
|
Grand Total
|
Beaumont Hospital
|
12
|
10
|
|
|
22
|
CHI at Crumlin
|
5
|
|
|
|
5
|
CHI at Temple St
|
|
|
|
6
|
6
|
Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown
|
21
|
|
|
|
21
|
Croom Orthopaedic Hospital
|
86
|
5
|
|
|
91
|
Galway University Hospitals
|
101
|
43
|
18
|
45
|
207
|
Kilcreene Regional Orthopaedic Hospital
|
85
|
10
|
|
|
95
|
Letterkenny University Hospital
|
57
|
26
|
|
6
|
89
|
Mayo University Hospital
|
36
|
9
|
5
|
21
|
71
|
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore
|
42
|
29
|
|
15
|
86
|
National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh
|
307
|
26
|
|
|
333
|
Our Lady's Hospital Navan
|
88
|
16
|
|
|
104
|
Sligo University Hospital
|
43
|
13
|
|
|
56
|
Small Volume Hospitals
|
7
|
14
|
21
|
7
|
49
|
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital
|
20
|
|
|
|
20
|
St. James's Hospital
|
19
|
|
|
9
|
28
|
Tallaght University Hospital
|
103
|
35
|
|
8
|
146
|
University Hospital Kerry
|
46
|
21
|
|
|
67
|
University Hospital Waterford
|
8
|
8
|
|
|
16
|
Grand Total
|
1086
|
265
|
44
|
117
|
1512
|