Terence Flanagan
Question:142. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding patient treatments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20909/15]
View answerWednesday, 27 May 2015
Questions (142)
Written answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The NTPF previously arranged for the provision of hospital treatment to classes of persons determined by the Minister. The key focus of the NTPF between 2002 and end 2011 was to treat patients longest on waiting lists for in-patient treatment and to report on a pilot initiative to manage waiting lists for outpatients. Since 2011 this function has been suspended.
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. Taking into account current pressures on acute hospital services, a target has been put in place, that by mid-year nobody will wait more than 18 months for in-patient and day case treatment or an out-patient appointment, with a further reduction thereafter to no greater than 15 months by year end.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.