Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2017
397. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the way in which the €30 million earmarked in budget 2017 for waiting list reduction measures in the public system was allocated; his assessment of the effectiveness of this expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25293/17]
View answerReducing 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 to dedicate €5m to a daycase waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure by 30 June 2017. In excess of 2,000 daycases will be managed through this process and patients have started to receive appointments and procedures. Specifically, the NTPF has advised that over 300 patients have accepted an offer of treatment in a private hospital and that over 80 patients have received their procedure.
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 the details will be communicated imminently. It is expected that the Inpatient / Daycase and Outpatient Plans will considerably reduce the number of patients waiting 15 months or more for inpatient and daycase treatment or for an outpatient appointment. The Scoliosis Action Plan aims to ensure that no patient is waiting more than four months by the end of 2017.
These Plans will utilise both the capacity within the private hospital system through outsourcing, whilst maximising existing capacity in our public hospital system through insourcing within hospital groups. The Plans have been developed in conjunction with, and supported by, the NTPF's proposal for utilisation of the remaining €10m of 2017 funding for patient treatment.
