Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
142. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to provide resources to the HSE to reduce waiting time for pain management services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33537/20]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the HSE had to take measures to defer most routine scheduled care activity in March, April, and May of this year. This was to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources were made available for Covid-19 related activity and urgent time-critical work. This decision was in line with the advice issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) in accordance with the advice of the World Health Organisation.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The HSE continues to optimise productivity through alternative work practices such the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.
In addition, the National Treatment Purchas Fund (NTPF) is currently reviewing strategies to maximise activity and benefit for patients, to include, increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, funding hybrid services where public and private hospitals contribute to the treatment of patients, virtual clinics and clinical validation.
The NTPF have advised my department that they have approved 16 Pain Relief Insourcing Initiatives (12 IPDC & 4 OPD) for funding for 2020 which will facilitate treatment for over 1,500 patients on pain relief waiting lists throughout the country.
The latest available NTPF figures (September 2020) show 4,658 patients on the IPDC Pain Relief waiting list. This list has shown a consistent decrease every month since May 2020, when it peaked at 4,983. The current figure represents a 7% decrease on the May figure.
There are currently 12,289 patients on the OPD Pain Relief waiting list. This compares to a figure of 11,853 for September 2019.
