Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 June 2018
30. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Health the initiatives that will be taken to reduce long waiting times for an outpatient appointment in Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28292/18]
View answerThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) data published on 13 June 2018 indicates that there is a total of 5,815 adults waiting for an outpatient appointment in Our Lady’s Hospital Navan. This is an increase of 3.5% on the numbers waiting in May 2017 (5,618).
The Ireland East Hospital Group advises that Our Lady’s Hospital has undertaken a number of initiatives to deliver additional outpatient clinics and to address some of the long waiters on the outpatient waiting list.
In Orthopaedics, the hospital has added an Arthroplasty Clinical Nurse Specialist since February 2018 to assist with outpatient clinics. The appointment of a new Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist is planned for early autumn which should free up additional capacity for new patients.
Cardiology services will be improved with the upcoming appointment of a new Cardiologist between Our Lady’s in Navan and the Mater Hospital. This is one of a number of additional posts approved between both hospitals as part of the Navan redesign programme.
The regional rheumatology service will be supported with the appointment of two new Advanced Nurse Practitioners – these nurses will manage existing patients in nurse-led clinics thus freeing up space to accommodate new referrals.
New organisational structures are to be introduced in the hospital. A recruitment campaign is currently underway to appoint a Scheduled Care Lead who will oversee scheduling of patients in a timely manner, and support the validation of outpatient lists and measures to improve the rates of "Did Not Attend" (DNA) patients at outpatient clinics.
