Denis Naughten
Question:214. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address waiting times for orthopaedic appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9152/16]
View answerWednesday, 4 May 2016
Questions (214)
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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred.
In 2016, the HSE is focusing on a number of key activities to manage waiting lists more effectively, thereby improving patient waiting times. These include:
- ensuring that chronological scheduling is adhered to;
- putting in place administrative and clinical validation procedures to ensure that patients are available for treatment;
- relocating high-volume low complexity surgeries to smaller hospitals; and
- designating an improvement lead for each hospital group, to provide support in meeting national targets for appointments and treatment
Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved.