Hospital Appointment Status

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 July 2014

Wednesday, 2 July 2014

Questions (186)

Heather Humphreys

Question:

186. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan who was originally scheduled to have their surgery carried out in Tallaght hospital in June 2013 has still not been seen; if he will seek a detailed response from the hospital on the reason this person's surgery has been cancelled on three separate occasions; his views that it is acceptable for a patient to be treated in this manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28739/14]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists. The guidance on minimising hospital initiated postponements indicates that, where possible, routine patients who have previously been cancelled should be the last patients to be cancelled.

In relation to the Deputy's further question in this matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to her directly.