I 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.
By the end of 2011, very significant progress had been made on SDU initiatives in relation to unscheduled care and inpatient/day case targets. In order to maintain and improve on these targets, the SDU has advised the HSE of a penalty scheme which will be levied on hospitals which fail to treat inpatients and day cases within the 12 month target. Work has now begun on access to outpatient services, with the recent launch of the OPD Performance Improvement Programme. I am conscious that the long wait for OPD appointments is a major barrier to accessing health services and I intend to have this situation remedied as a matter of urgency.
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.