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Hospital Waiting Lists

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2022

Thursday, 27 January 2022

Questions (348, 349)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

348. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting on knee replacements in each hospital for 1, 2, 3 and 4 plus years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4063/22]

View answer

Patricia Ryan

Question:

349. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons waiting on hip replacements in each hospital for 1, 2, 3 and 4 plus years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4064/22]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 349 together.

It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Delta and Omicron variants.

As part of the response to this the HSE advised all Hospital Groups to take a series of immediate actions which included a period of prioritising unscheduled care, COVID care and urgent time sensitive work - in particular in Model 4 hospitals. Services are beginning to return to normal but elective procedures continue to be affected by staff absences due to Covid and emergency department pressures that are running above 2019 levels.

The HSE has confirmed to the Department that 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 Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.

In addition, the Department of Health, the HSE and the 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 the Department of Health and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund.

For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.

The information requested by the deputy concerning hip/knee replacements at each hospital in the requested time-bands, is outlined in the attached documents.

Hips

Row Labels

 0-12 Mths

 12-24 Mths

24-36 Mths

36-48 Mths

SmallVolTb

Grand Total

Beaumont Hospital

                                  13

                       13

Children's Health Ireland

                                  12

                        5

                       17

Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown

                                  16

                       16

Croom Orthopaedic Hospital

                               138

                        5

                    143

Galway University Hospitals

                               132

                     23

                    10

                        5

                    170

Kilcreene Regional Orthopaedic Hospital

                               113

                    113

Letterkenny University Hospital

                                  41

                     23

                       8

                       72

Mater Misericordiae University Hospital

                                     9

                          9

Mayo University Hospital

                                  55

                     17

                    10

                       8

                       90

Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore

                                  56

                       56

National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh

                               369

                    369

Our Lady's Hospital Navan

                                  66

                     10

                       76

Sligo University Hospital

                                  56

                        9

                       65

SmallVolHospitals

                     30

                       30

South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital

                                  45

                       45

St. James's Hospital

                                  37

                        6

                       7

                       50

St. Vincent's University Hospital

                        7

                          7

Tallaght University Hospital

                                  57

                        6

                       63

University Hospital Kerry

                                  76

                     15

                       6

                       97

University Hospital Waterford

                                  11

                        7

                       18

Grand Total

                           1,302

                  126

                    41

                       8

                     42

                1,519

Knees

Row Labels

 0-12 Mths

 12-24 Mths

24-36 Mths

36-48 Mths

48+ Mths

SmallVolTb

Grand Total

Beaumont Hospital

                                  11

                              11

Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown

                                     7

                                 7

Croom Orthopaedic Hospital

                               104

                           7

                           111

Galway University Hospitals

                                  59

                        22

                        10

                           6

                              97

Kilcreene Regional Orthopaedic Hospital

                                  97

                              97

Letterkenny University Hospital

                                  36

                        13

                        17

                              66

Mater Misericordiae University Hospital

                                     8

                                 8

Mayo University Hospital

                                  24

                           7

                        11

                           5

                     5

                              52

Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore

                                  70

                           6

                              76

National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh

                               380

                           380

Our Lady's Hospital Navan

                                  66

                           8

                           5

                              79

Sligo University Hospital

                                  27

                           8

                              35

SmallVolHospitals

                      23

                              23

South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital

                                  57

                              57

St. James's Hospital

                                  27

                           9

                           5

                              41

St. Vincent's University Hospital

                         6

                                 6

Tallaght University Hospital

                                  43

                              43

University Hospital Kerry

                                  46

                        16

                              62

University Hospital Waterford

                                     7

                           7

                         5

                              19

Grand Total

                           1,069

                        94

                        52

                        16

                     5

                      34

                       1,270

Question No. 349 answered with Question No. 348.
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