Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2024
50. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update in relation to the reduction in waiting lists for elective medical procedures in relation to cataract procedures and orthopaedic procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2073/24]
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 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 024 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.
The Waiting List Action Plan identifies 20 high volume procedures including cataracts and includes a commitment that anybody waiting 3 months by year end, who is clinically suitable will receive an offer of care.
As at end December 2023, 93% of patients waiting more than 3 months by year end have been removed from IPDC waiting list (through HSE & NTPF activity) or have received an authorisation for an offer of NTPF funded treatment.
In terms of reductions to waiting lists for elective procedures, there were 9,445 patients waiting for an orthopaedic procedure as of December 2023 which is an 11% reduction in comparison to December 2022. There were 9,612 patients waiting for an opthalmology procedure at the end of December 2023 which is an 11% reduction in the past year.
The NTPF has confirmed a there were a total of 7,718 treatments arranged last year for Cataracts procedures. For Hip replacements, 861 treatments were arranged and 776 Knee replacement treatments were organised by the NTPF in 2023.
