Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 May 2018
470. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists for all orthopaedic and cardiac procedures; the extent to which contributory factors in the context of waiting lists have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23781/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and this year, €50 million was allocated to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to provide treatment for patients and reduce waiting times. The Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan 2018 which was published in April outlines the combined impact of HSE and NTPF activity in 2018 to reduce the number of patients waiting for treatment. NTPF authorisations are made in respect of the longest waiting patients first.
The Action Plan has been developed to ensure an appropriate balance between high volume activities and offering treatment to complex long waiting patients.
The Action Plan includes a focus on orthopaedic patients with 800 of the 20,000 NTPF funded procedures planned for patients requiring hip/knee replacements. In 2018, under the Plan, all clinically suitable patients waiting over 9 months for a hip/knee replacement will be offered treatment this year.
For very long waiting patients, the Action Plan sets a target that the NTPF will provide 1,200 procedures in 2018. This could include those waiting for more complex procedures such as cardiology. As outlined in the Plan, the NTPF will invite public hospitals to suggest solutions for very long waiters either in the private sector or through insourcing. The NTPF will provide funding to those suggested solutions that are appropriate.
In addition, the HSE is working with the NTPF and my Department to finalise a joint Outpatient Waiting List Action Plan. Each year 3.3 million patients attend Hospital Outpatient clinics for appointments, with demand for services growing year-on-year. The Action Plan will focus on improving overall use of resources to tackle long patient waiting times and to 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 for outpatient initiatives.
In addition, my Department has placed a particular priority on performance improvement in scheduled and unscheduled care in order to improve access for patients. At the end of 2017, a new Unit was established in my Department with a remit to work with Departmental colleagues and with the HSE and NTPF to provide strategic direction and to drive a whole of Department approach to performance oversight and innovation in this area. The monitoring of waiting lists is a key activity of this Unit.
Waiting list figures are published every month by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) on their website, www.ntpf.ie. The following table sets out the waiting list information requested by the Deputy for April 2018:
|
Cardiology |
Orthopaedics |
|
|
Inpatient / Daycase |
4,023 |
11,483 |
|
Outpatient |
19,867 |
62,448 |
