Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2024
329. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health to indicate what steps have been taken to ensure that patients seeking treatment for cataracts can expect to have their needs met in the shortest possible timeframe, whether the national treatment purchase scheme is being used to assist the most urgent cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2326/24]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures are too long and continue to be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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.
The NTPF approved 3 insourcing cataracts initiatives for funding in 2023, which facilitated treatment for 2,900 patients on cataracts waiting lists. The NTPF also approved 4 outpatient ophthalmology initiatives for funding in 2023, facilitating treatment for 8,600 patients on ophthalmology waiting lists. There were a total of 7,718 treatments arranged in 2023 for cataracts procedures by the NTPF.
The 2023 Waiting List Action Plan built on the foundational work done in previous plans, achieving significant progress in relation to waiting lists, including advancements made on overall waiting list reduction for the second year in a row, and progress made in addressing long waiting times.
The Department of Health is working with the HSE to finalise both the End of Year Report against the 2023 WLAP as well as the new WLAP 2024, which will take account of learnings from 2023 as well as the funding envelope provided for 2024.
For 2024, funding totalling €407 million is being allocated to tackle waiting lists with €332 million of this allocated to the 2024 WLAP, and the remaining €75 million targeted at various measures to alleviate community/primary care waiting lists.
The funding will encompass core HSE activity, additionality provided through both the NTPF and the HSE, as well as progressing new service developments to further reform elective care, and will facilitate the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care for everyone, where and when they need it, in line with Sláintecare reforms.
