Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 June 2018
51. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to reduce waiting lists for gynaecological services at Cork University Maternity Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28285/18]
View answerThe waiting list data from the National Treatment Purchase Fund for the end of May 2018 indicates that there were 395 people waiting for Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) gynaecology inpatient services, compared with 495 waiting in May 2017. Of these, 54% were waiting for less than 6 months, and 81% were waiting for less than 12 months. The outpatient waiting list data for May indicates there were 3,629 people waiting for gynaecology services, compared with 4,610 in May 2017, a decrease of 21%. Of these, 44% were waiting for less than 6 months, 74% were waiting less than 12 months.
In recent years, CUMH, has received funding to invest in the improvement in its Gynaecology Services. The South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG) committed an additional €700,000 to the service for 2017 to provide increased theatre capacity and staffing resources to deliver improved waiting times for inpatient/day case treatment and outpatient appointments. While an additional €0.4m in funding has also been allocated by SSWHG for CUMH gynaecology services in 2018.
In January 2017, a National Women & Infants Health Programme was established within the HSE to lead the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services.
In addition, the SSWHG has developed a phased approach to improve waiting times for gynaecology services at CUMH. This includes the establishment of the SSWHG Women and Children Services Directorate last year, which, I expect, will ensure better coordination and utilisation of maternity gynaecological resources across the group.
More broadly, the Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan 2018 which was published in April outlines the combined impact of HSE and NTPF activity in 2018 to reduce the number of patients waiting for treatment. Under the Plan, the HSE will deliver 1.14 million hospital procedures across a range of specialties. The NTPF will deliver 22,000 Inpatient Day Case treatments across a range of specialties through both outsourcing and HSE insourcing. As outlined in the Plan, the NTPF and the HSE will invite proposals from hospitals for waiting list initiatives. The NTPF will provide funding to the solutions proposed if appropriate.
