Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 March 2017
401. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently waiting in County Mayo for a neurological consultant appointment broken down by time waiting of zero to three months, three to six months, six to nine months, nine to 12 months, 12 to 24 months and more than 24 months, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15383/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has advised that as of 23 March 2017 there were 521 people (including children) on the outpatient waiting list on the Neurology Outpatient waiting list with a patient area of residence of Donegal. The waiting times of those on the list is indicated in the following table.
Neurology Outpatient waiting list with a patient area of residence of Donegal
|
- |
0-3- months |
3-6 months |
6-9 months |
9-12 months |
12-24 months |
24+ months |
Total |
|
Number of Patients |
218 |
105 |
74 |
39 |
76 |
9 |
521 |
As the Deputy may be aware, in December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5m to a daycase waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure by 30 June 2017. In excess of 2000 daycases will be managed through this process and outsourcing of treatment will commence shortly. The focus of this initiative will be those lists with large numbers of long waiting patients.
In addition to this Daycase Initiative, the NTPF has been working closely with my Department and the HSE to agree an approach to the remaining 2017 allocation. The HSE is currently developing a 2017 Waiting List Action Plans for Inpatient/Daycase procedures and Outpatient appointments to reduce the number of patients waiting more than 15 months by the end of October. The Inpatient/Day case Plan is being developed in conjunction with the NTPF's approach to the utilisation of its remaining €10m funding for patient treatment in 2017.
The HSE has now submitted Draft Waiting List Action Plans for Inpatient Daycases and Scoliosis. My Department is currently reviewing and evaluating these plans and engagement is ongoing with the HSE and the NTPF towards the finalisation of the former. The Outpatients Plan has been significantly progressed and I expect that it will be submitted shortly.
