Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018
355. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the number of persons awaiting cataract procedures on national public waiting lists in 2016, 2017 and to date in 2018; the average waiting time to undergo required cataract procedures; his plans to further reduce the waiting times in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6846/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that waiting times for Ophthalmology patients are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the impact of this on people's lives.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one this Government's key priorities. October's Budget announced a total 2018 allocation of €55m for the NTPF for 2018. This significant increase in funding more than doubles the 2017 total allocation of €20m. The NTPF and HSE are in the process of finalising Waiting List Action Plans and Initiatives for 2018. This will include ambitious targets for both the HSE and NTPF to reduce the overall number of patients waiting for treatment, including those patients awaiting Ophthalmology procedures.
I hope to publish the 2018 Inpatient Day Case Waiting List Action Plan at the end of February.
In response to this particular query, data from the NTPF indicates that there was a total of 9,260 patients awaiting a cataract procedure in December 2016. Of these, 44% patients (4,085) were waiting less than 6 months for a cataracts procedure and 77% patients (7,133) were waiting less than 12 months.
NTPF data also indicates there was a total of 8,027 patients awaiting a cataract procedure in December 2017. Of these, 53% patients (4,274) were waiting less than 6 months for a cataracts procedure and 88% patients (7,043) were waiting less than 12 months.
The NTPF publishes the Inpatient/Daycase and Outpatient waiting list figures by specialty for each hospital on its website each month. The January 2018 waiting list figures for Ophthalmology procedures are yet to be published. This information will be available at www.NTPF.ie in the coming days.
