Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
1126. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list to see a consultant cardiologist at Naas General Hospital; and the average waiting time to see the consultant. [15271/20]
View answerIn response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to pause all non-urgent elective scheduled care activity with effect from the end March 2020. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and in accordance with World Health Organisation guidelines, and the National Action Plan.
The trajectory of the disease means there is now an opportunity for increasing the provision of non-covid care including more routine care. NPHET has since revised its recommendation on the pausing of all non-essential health services, with a recommendation that the delivery of acute care be determined by appropriate clinical and operational decision making.
Application of the essential risk mitigating steps set out in the guidance developed under the auspices of the NPHET Expert Advisory group will have operational implications, which will impact on throughput.
Where possible, hospitals are working to find innovative ways to enable service provision, which include virtual clinics for some outpatient department appointments. The HSE website provides details on services currently available and operational in each hospital on its website. This information is reviewed frequently and provides up-to-date announcements on services available at each site (https://www2.hse.ie/services/hospital-service-disruptions/hospital-service-disruptions-covid19.html).
To ensure services are re-introduced in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, the HSE launched its Strategic Framework for ‘Service Continuity in a Covid Environment’ on 24 June. Its implementation will ensure service resumption is done in an integrated way. This will involve a phased approach to ensure community services are strengthened. The Framework will also consolidate new ways of working and build on international knowledge. The HSE is currently developing a Service Continuity Roadmap for the resumption of services across the health system.
As the system continues to deliver Covid-19 and non-Covid 19 care side-by-side over a more prolonged period, my Department and the HSE will continue to work closely together to protect essential non-Covid 19 acute care and progress the provision of more routine non Covid-19 care.
The latest National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) figures show that there are 1,324 patients on the Naas General Hospital cardiology waiting list. The NTPF have advised my Department that the average waiting time is 354 days. The data requested concerning the Naas General Hospital cardiology waiting list is also outlined in the following document.
Table - Naas General Hospital cardiology waiting list figures
The NTPF currently collects and collates information in respect of the Inpatient, Day Case, Planned Procedure (IDPP*) and Outpatient (OP) Waiting Lists. The requested National waiting list data is available on the NTPF website, and is available by hospital site as well as specialty at (https://www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.html).
