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Hospital Waiting Lists

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 March 2021

Wednesday, 10 March 2021

Questions (900)

David Cullinane

Question:

900. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time to see a consultant rheumatologist at Sligo University Hospital; the number of persons on the waiting list for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13121/21]

View answer

Written answers

It 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 were 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.

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 outpatient consultations, funding hybrid services where public and private hospitals contribute to the treatment of patients, virtual clinics, and clinical validation.

€240 million has been provided in Budget 2021 for an access to care fund, €210m of which has been allocated to the HSE and a further €30m to the National Treatment Purchase Fund. This will be used to fund additional capacity to address the shortfall arising as a result of measures taken in the context of Covid-19, as well as to address waiting lists.

The National Waiting List Management Policy is a standardised approach used by the HSE to manage scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures. It sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists and was developed in 2014 to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care.

The information requested the Deputy concerning the number of persons on the Sligo University Hospital rheumatology outpatient waiting list and average waiting time, is outlined in the attached document.

OP Rheumatology Waiters as of 28/1/2021

-

 0-3 Months

 3-6 Months

 6-9 Months

 9-12 Months

12-15 Months

15-18 Months

18 Months +

Grand Total

Sligo University Hospital

296

280

128

204

162

93

200

1363

Rheumatology

296

280

128

204

162

93

200

1363

Grand Total

296

280

128

204

162

93

200

1363

Average Num days:

299

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