Hospital Waiting Lists

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 March 2017

Wednesday, 8 March 2017

Questions (84)

Kevin O'Keeffe

Question:

84. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will address the serious delays in ophthalmic appointments at Cork University Hospital; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that all five ophthalmic surgeons at the hospital have written to the hospital's risk management division warning that the hospital must accept full responsibility for any adverse consequences to patients as a result of the failure to adequately resource the doctors to carry out the service demanded of them; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that as a result of inadequate capacity, patient appointments are being delayed beyond that clinically recommended; and if his attention has been drawn to the figures from surgeons at the hospital that show an estimated shortfall in capacity of 28,260 patient appointments per year. [11828/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

This Government is committed to reducing waiting times for patients, both for patients waiting for inpatient or daycase procedures and for outpatient appointments.

During 2016, there has been evidence of a considerable increase in demand for health services, as our population grows and ages.

In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, the HSE is currently developing Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the area of Inpatient Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services.

Draft Waiting List Action Plans for Inpatient Daycase and Scoliosis have been submitted. My Department is currently reviewing these plans and engagement is ongoing with the HSE and the NTPF.

In addition, in November, the HSE launched the Strategy for the Design of Integrated Outpatient Services 2016-2020. This strategy seeks to improve waiting times for outpatient services in the long term by restructuring referral pathways and utilising technology to improve service delivery. The HSE has also significantly progressed the development of a draft Outpatient Waiting List Action Plan. In this Plan, the HSE will identify proposals to reduce the number of patients waiting long periods of time for outpatient appointments across all hospitals.

I expect to make known the details of the HSE's Outpatient Waiting List Action Plan in the coming weeks. In relation to your specific query regarding Cork University Hospital, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.