Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2015
592. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health the measures his Department has taken to ensure that the over 480,000 patients who are on a waiting list across the State's hospitals awaiting treatment receive such treatment as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23311/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to comply with the commitment which I announced in January, of a maximum permissible waiting time of 18 months by the end of June and 15 months by year end, the HSE has put in place specific measures to address waiting lists more efficiently. This will be done in collaboration with acute hospitals, the Special Delivery Unit and the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
The HSE, in conjunction with Hospital Groups, is focused on delivering on this requirement through maximising the use of internal capacity within and across Hospital Groups in the first instance. However, there are key limiting factors, primarily in terms of theatre nursing staff and consultant manpower in particular specialties. Consequently, it is recognised that judicious outsourcing is also required, and this is being managed through a public tendering process. The elimination of the longest waiting periods for treatment is a key performance objective for 2015 and its achievement will allow for progressive improvement in access to treatments throughout the year.
