Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:130. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3537/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 26 January 2017
Ceisteanna (130)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy may be aware, in December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF for the first tranche of funding, in the region of €5m, for an initiative focusing on daycase procedures. Under this initiative, the NTPF estimates that around 3,000 patients waiting 18 months or more for daycase procedures will be treated, with the aim that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for daycase treatment by 30 June 2017. This Initiative will initially focus on key specialties with high numbers of long-waiting patients, including in Ophthalmology. While the associated tender process is ongoing, the NTPF has advised that there has been good engagement with all the major private hospitals and these hospitals are ready to play a significant role in this Initiative. It is expected that the outsourcing of treatment will commence shortly.
In addition, in December 2016, the Department wrote to the HSE requesting that it submit in January, a Waiting List Action Plan for 2017 in respect of both the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List and the Outpatient Waiting List. The focus of these plans should be to ensure that no patient is waiting more than 15 months on either list by the end of October 2017. The HSE has been requested to develop the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List Action Plan in conjunction with and supported by, the NTPF's proposal for utilisation of the remaining €10m of 2017 funding for patient treatment. I expect to make known the details of both plans in the coming weeks.