Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 December 2004
92 Mr. Deasy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on a circular from the South Eastern Health Board that there are waiting times of up to four years for orthopaedics and up to two years for ENT; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31791/04]
View answerResponsibility for the management and monitoring of outpatient waiting lists, including orthopaedic and ENT outpatient waiting lists in the South Eastern Health Board, rests with individual hospitals and the health board. It is a matter for each hospital to prioritise its services based on patient need and use its available resources to best effect to ensure that patient services are delivered efficiently and effectively.
In accordance with health strategy objectives, the Government's immediate focus is on the reduction of waiting lists and waiting times for inpatients and day case treatments in acute hospitals. This is being particularly facilitated by the national treatment purchase fund. However, I intend to raise with the fund how to make progress on outpatient appointments in 2005.
