Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 March 2012
638 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15210/12]
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 were instructed to ensure that, by the end of 2011, they had no patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment. I can confirm that the vast majority of hospitals achieved this objective. During 2012 the SDU will support hospitals in the delivery of a 9 month maximum wait time for inpatient or daycase surgery.
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and facility involved.
639 Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the amount of money generated through parking charges at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15219/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
640 Deputy Eamonn Maloney asked the Minister for Health the numbers attending the out of hours general practitioner service in Tallaght hospital since its opening; the way this has impacted on the numbers attending the accident and emergency department in the hospital and the number of Tallaght based GPs that sit in the TLC out of hours service [15221/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
