Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 October 2015
177. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Health the progress made in reducing waiting times for patients awaiting inpatient and day care treatment; outpatient appointments at Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33742/15]
View answerImproving waiting times for scheduled care for patients is a key priority for the Government. In January, taking into account current pressures on acute hospital services, the Minister for Health put in place maximum permissible waiting times for inpatient and day case treatment and outpatient appointments of 18 months by 30 June and 15 months by year end. The HSE was provided with additional funding of €51m to ensure that these maximum waiting times would be achieved.
In June, the HSE reported a performance against the 18 month maxima of 99.6% for in-patient/day cases (IP/DC) and 92% for out-patients (OPD). In order to maintain progress and to make further improvements to achieve a 15 month maxima by end December, the HSE has directed that hospitals which breach the 18 month maximum waiting time in August are to be fined. The fines will be calculated on the basis of the Activity Based Funding cost of each procedure and are being imposed from 1 September.
The HSE, in conjunction with Hospital Groups is focused on delivering these targets through maximising use of internal capacity within and across Hospital Groups in the first instance. Hospitals have been requested to produce clearance plans in this regard.
