Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 October 2011
237 Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to address the long waiting lists for MRI scans in County Kerry, which are currently at a standstill, as a result of the withdrawal of the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the implications this withdrawal has for the contract between Kerry General Hospital and the Bon Secours Hospital in Tralee. [30529/11]
View answerI am determined to address the issues which cause unacceptable delays in patients receiving treatment in our hospitals. In this regard I have established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), which will work to unblock access to acute services by dramatically improving the flow of patients through the system, and by streamlining waiting lists, including referrals from GPs. The SDU is working closely with its partner agencies — mainly the HSE and the NTPF.
As a priority, public hospitals have been instructed to ensure that, by the end of 2011, they have no patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment. Where they fail to do so, the NTPF will source the necessary treatments elsewhere and an appropriate budgetary adjustment will be made.
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
