Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 October 2019
15. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the reason for the large increase in the number waiting more than 18 months for an outpatient appointment in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore since May 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41200/19]
View answerReducing waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures is a key commitment of government. While the last 18 months have seen considerable progress in the reduction of waiting times for Inpatient and Daycase treatments, I am conscious that the Outpatient Waiting List remains a significant challenge as demand for acute hospital services continues to grow.
Waiting list figures for the end of September, due to be published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) later this week, show that there are 16,500 people waiting for an outpatient appointment at Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore. 61% of patients have been waiting less than one year, while 27% (4,500 patients) are currently waiting over 18 months. ENT accounts for 69% (3,080) of all patients waiting for an outpatient appointment over 18 months.
More broadly, the NTPF advise that over recent months they have placed a particular focus on engaging with hospital groups and individual hospitals to identify outpatient waiting list proposals. In addition, my Department has established a Working Group comprised of representatives from the HSE, NTPF, and Departmental officials, to examine ways of improving access for patients waiting for scheduled care. Part of this work includes developing initiatives which will move care to the most appropriate setting, and at the lowest level of complexity. ENT is one of the specialties being examined as part of this process.
Budget 2020 announced that the Government has further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the NTPF increasing from €75 million in 2019 to €100 million in 2020. The year-on-year increases to the National Treatment Purchase Fund since Budget 2017 reflect this Government’s priority to improve waiting times for patients to access hospital treatment.
My Department is working with the HSE and NTPF to develop the Scheduled Care Access Plan 2020. In this regard, the HSE National Service Plan 2020 will set out a planned activity level for the year ahead, while the NTPF will work with the hospital system to provide additionality to reduce inpatient/day case waiting lists, with a particular focus on improving access to hospital outpatient services. In 2020, the Department will also be asking the HSE and NTPF to work together with the Sláintecare Implementation Office with the aim of driving sustainable improvements to service provision.
