Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 December 2018
379. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 364 of 4 December 2018, the number of children waiting on orthodontic treatment by grade and length of time waiting at Letterkenny University Hospital in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52020/18]
View answerReducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for the Government. This year has seen ongoing improvements with the number of patients waiting for inpatient and daycase procedures (IPDC), now at 72,000 from the peak of 86,100 in July 2017. This represents a 16% reduction in the overall number of patients waiting for an inpatient or day case procedure.
In Budget 2019 the Government has further increased investment in this area, with funding to the NTPF to increase from €55m in 2018 to €75m in 2019.
My Department is working closely with the National Treatment Purchase Fund and the HSE to finalise a coherent Waiting List Action Plan for 2019.
In 2019, the NTPF will continue to work closely with Hospital Groups, inviting proposals to improve access for patients waiting for either Inpatient/Daycase or Outpatient procedures. NTPF authorisations are made in respect of the longest waiting patients first.
The information sought by the Deputy is contained in the attached document.
Waiting List - Orthodontic Treatment
Letterkenny University Hospital
The NTPF have confirmed that there are currently no children at Letterkenny University Hospital waiting under the IPDC specialties of maxillofacial, oral surgery, or dental surgery, as of the 1st of November.
There are no children listed for outpatient appointments under the specialties of oral surgery or dental surgery.
The NTPF confirm that there are 73 children listed for outpatient appointments under the specialty of maxillofacial at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Outpatient referrals are triaged as urgent or routine. The Outpatient data with triage included for paediatric orthodontics at Letterkenny University Hospital is provided below.
Letterkenny General Hospital
|
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
9-12 Months |
12-15 Months |
15-18 Months |
18 Months + |
Grand Total |
|
|
Maxillofacial |
12 |
8 |
5 |
6 |
10 |
6 |
26 |
73 |
|
Routine |
6 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
10 |
6 |
26 |
62 |
|
Urgent |
6 |
3 |
2 |
11 |
||||
|
Grand Total |
12 |
8 |
5 |
6 |
10 |
6 |
26 |
73 |
