I acknowledge that waiting times for Ophthalmology patients are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the impact of this on people's lives.
Data from the National Treatment Purchase Fund indicates that as of 29 December 2017 there were 23 people waiting for an outpatient Ophthalmology appointment in Mercy University Hospital and 13 people waiting for an Inpatient/Daycase procedure. There was also 1,009 people waiting on an Ophthalmology Inpatient/Daycase procedure in South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. Of the patients at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, approximately 69% (703 people) were waiting less than 6 months for Inpatient/Daycase services and 95% (967 people) were waiting less than 12 months.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one this Government's key priorities. October's Budget announced a total 2018 allocation of €55m for the NTPF for 2018. This significant increase in funding more than doubles the 2017 total allocation of €20m. The NTPF and HSE are in the process of finalising Waiting List Action Plans and Initiatives for 2018. This will include ambitious targets for both the HSE and NTPF to reduce the overall number of patients waiting for treatment, including those patients awaiting Ophthalmology procedures.
I hope to publish the 2018 Inpatient Day Case Waiting List Action Plan at the end of February.