Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 May 2017
482. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the Cork University Maternity Hospital gynaecological waiting list who have been receiving treatment through the National Treatment Purchase Fund since its introduction; and the level of reduction in the waiting list as a result. [23273/17]
View answerI acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the impact of this on people’s lives.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF for the first tranche of funding in the region of €5 million for a waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that in excess of 2,000 patients waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure will have received an appointment for their procedure by 30 June 2017.
The necessary tendering work commenced at the end of last year and has now been finalised with contracts signed with all successful applicants. The NTPF has advised that the Initiative has commenced and patients are currently receiving their appointments.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. These plans have now been finalised and will be communicated shortly. The Inpatient Daycase Waiting List Action Plan includes a targeted initiative for Cork University Maternity Hospital to address long-waiting Gynaecology patients in the South/South West Hospital Group.
