Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 September 2012
198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which waiting lists for various procedures have altered over the past three years to date in 2012; if he intends to take any particular or specific initiatives to address any issues emerging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41170/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treatment Purchase Fund report the number of people on waiting lists over the past three years are as follows:
- August 2010: 45,899
- August 2011: 56,870
- August 2012: 51,955.
The Special Delivery Unit (SDU) Scheduled Care Team was tasked with improving access to elective surgery and lowering waiting lists. There have been significant achievements in Scheduled Care since July 2011 when the SDU was formed. In relation to inpatient and day-case surgery, the overall waiting list numbers have decreased from 56,020 to 51,955, a drop of 7%. The number of adults having to wait more than 12 months is down from 2,732 to 408, a drop of 85% and the number of adults having to wait more than 9 months is down from 6,277 to 2,342, a drop of 63%. The number of children having to wait more than 20 weeks is down from 1,712 to 670 a decrease of 61%
The SDU began to tackle long waits for routine GI endoscopy services (i.e. scopes) in May 2012 and since May 2012 overall waiting list numbers for scopes have decreased from 13,349 to 8,904, a drop of 33%. Those having to wait longer than 3 months (the target for 2012) have decreased from 5,062 to 1,711, a drop of 66% .
The initial priority for the SDU was trolley waits and day cases. It has now begun to work on improving access to outpatient services. The SDU and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are on trajectory to take over the reporting of outpatient waiting times from the HSE shortly. This work will involve the systematic collection of waiting time data at an individual patient level and in a standardised format from all hospitals providing a consultant-led hospital outpatient service. The collation and analysis of outpatient waiting time data in a standardised format will enable the SDU and NTPF to target their resources towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure they are seen and assessed. It will also allow hospitals to begin to reform and standardise the manner in which it provides outpatient services to ensure that patients receive an equitable service irrespective of their geographical location.
