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Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 December 2021

Wednesday, 8 December 2021

Questions (156, 159)

Colm Burke

Question:

156. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the actions his Department is taking to assist with the slow transition of patients from paediatric to adult diabetes services in Cork which currently has a minimum two-year waiting list for adult services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60729/21]

View answer

Colm Burke

Question:

159. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the actions he is taking to help with the staffing shortage with large patient numbers in diabetes services in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60733/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 159 together.

It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last nineteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack.

On the 7th October I published the Acute Waiting List Action Plan. This plan, to run until December 2021, has a series of targeted measures that are designed to address the growth in waiting lists caused by Covid-19 and the cyber-attack.

In addition, my Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and includes representatives from the HSE and NTPF. The plan will be informed by the lessons learned from the successful Vaccine Taskforce.

The 2021 National Service Plan recognised the need for an unprecedented expansion of the permanent health workforce through permanent appointments. Funding has been provided for an increase to approximately 135,655 WTE across the health service by December 2021, which is an increase of 15,838 WTE over funded 2020 levels. There is significant workforce recruitment underway. The HSE Pay and Numbers Strategy identifies the specific roles and grades to be hired.

In relation to diabetes services in Cork Hospital and the transition from the paediatric to adult diabetes services, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

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