Michael McGrath
Ceist:1102. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information regarding public hospital waiting lists for surgery (details supplied). [36516/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 26 July 2017
Ceisteanna (1102)
Freagraí scríofa
I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase, Scoliosis and Outpatient Services. These plans have been published and their implementation is ongoing. The Inpatient/Daycase and Outpatient Plans focus on reducing the number of patients waiting 15 months or more for inpatient and daycase treatment or for an outpatient appointment by the end of October. The Scoliosis Action Plan aims to ensure that no patient who requires scoliosis surgery will be waiting more than four months for surgery by the end of 2017.
In addition, the NTPF is currently rolling out its Daycase Waiting List Initiative focused on those waiting longest for daycase treatment. The NTPF advises that 3,200 patients waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure had received an offer of an appointment for their procedure by the end of June.
In response to the particular query raised, the NTPF provides comprehensive and up to date data on inpatient and daycase waiting lists on its website www.ntpf.ie.