Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 May 2018
378. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to correct the inequity in waiting times, which can differ in children's hospitals by up to two years in some cases, for outpatient children with scoliosis (details supplied); the steps he has taken to ensure that lists are amalgamated, as committed to previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23299/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving waiting times for hospital procedures and outpatient appointments is a key commitment in the programme for Government.
The development of a sustainable and safe paediatric orthopaedic service, including scoliosis services for children and young people has been prioritised in the 2018. An additional €9 million has been provided to the HSE in 2018 specifically to develop paediatric orthopaedic services, including increasing access to scoliosis services.
The HSE and Children’s Hospital Group (CHG) developed a Paediatric Scoliosis Waiting List Action Plan for 2018 and this includes actions targeted at patients waiting longest for an outpatient appointment.
The HSE advise that, under the National Service Plan 2018, funding for two new consultant posts for paediatric orthopaedics has been provided and these appointment are expected to be finalised in quarter 4 of 2018. These posts are to be allocated to Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin and Temple Street Children’s University Hospital for paediatric orthopaedics and are expected to have a positive impact on current patient waiting times.
The HSE National Service Plan sets out a target that 80% of patients waiting for a first outpatient appointment will be seen within a 52 week wait timeframe. HSE figures for March 2018 show that the three hospitals of the CHG are seeing 62-64% of outpatients within 52 weeks.
The CHG advise that capacity challenges are managed daily, with each of the three children’s hospitals supporting each other in terms of bed utilisation and availability.
The HSE advise that a Paediatric Scoliosis Services Co-Design group is in place, which includes clinicians, hospital staff and representatives from the scoliosis advocacy groups, to design a comprehensive, contemporary, and patient-centred approach to the delivery of scoliosis services.
The Children’s Hospital Group has developed an integration strategy to integrate clinical and non-clinical services across the three hospitals and to ensure a smooth transition to the new facilities. A central referrals system is being developed as part of this integration strategy which will be key to supporting clinical services to operate as a single service across multiple locations. The system will be introduced on a phased basis commencing with general paediatrics in the first quarter of 2019.
The HSE is working with the NTPF and my Department to finalise a joint plan focused on improving overall use of resources to tackle long patient waiting times and ensure timely access to treatment and care for our patients. I hope to publish this Plan shortly. As part of this process the NTPF and the HSE are currently reviewing proposals from hospitals, including the hospitals across the CHG, for outpatient initiatives.
