Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021
898. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time to see a paediatric ophthalmology consultant at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13119/21]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last year as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The HSE is currently recommending that only critical time dependent elective procedures are undertaken at this time due to the on-going and significant increased demand for bed capacity related to Covid-19. This decision was made arising from the rapid increase in Covid-19 admissions and to ensure patient safety and that all appropriate resources are made available for Covid-19 related activity and time-critical essential work.
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 as the use of alternative settings including private hospitals, community facilities and alternative outpatient settings.
An additional €240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an Access to Care Fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and €30m to the NTPF for the provision of treatment as required in both private and public hospitals in order to address capacity issues in acute hospitals arising as a result of measures taken in the context of Covid-19, as well as to address waiting lists.
My Department, the HSE and the NTPF are continuously reviewing waiting lists with a view to ensuring that services for scheduled care are resumed as soon as it is deemed safe to do so in line with HSE clinical guidelines.
The data requested by the Deputy has been provided to my Department by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) who have advised that as of the end of January 2021, the average waiting time for an Outpatient Paediatric Ophthalmology consultation in University Hospital Waterford is 141 days.
