Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 June 2018
357. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the duration on a waiting list for a child to see a urologist at the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27629/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFigures for the end of May show that there are 720 patients on the Temple Street Children's University Hospital (TSCUH) urology Outpatient waiting list, of which 68% (491 patients) are waiting less than 9 months. For the same period there are 123 patients waiting for an Inpatient Day case urology procedure at TSCUH, with almost 75% waiting less than 8 months.
Improving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and €50 million was allocated to the NTPF in 2018 to provide treatment for patients. The recently launched Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan outlines the combined impact of HSE and NTPF activity in 2018 to reduce the number of patients waiting for treatment to below 70,000 in 2018. This plan marks a very important milestone in delivering on this commitment.
Each year 3.3 million patients attend Hospital Outpatient clinics for appointments, with demand for services growing year-on-year. A key component of the management of waiting lists by hospitals is the categorisation of patients by clinical priority to ensure that all patients receive care in timely and clinically appropriate matter. A number of steps are being taken to ensure the lists are accurate and these efforts are to intensify in the coming months.
In order to address the issue of growing outpatient waiting list numbers, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF, are in the process of finalising an Outpatient Action Plan for 2018. This plan will support the HSE's compliance with its National Service Plan targets, reduce the growth in the number of patients waiting for Outpatient Services, improve the accuracy of the waiting list and trial a number of NTPF funded interventions, including weekend and out of hours clinics.
