Carol Nolan
Ceist:1565. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in counties Laois and Offaly awaiting access to ophthalmology services for periods (details supplied). [33462/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 24 July 2018
Ceisteanna (1565)
Freagraí scríofa
Improving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and in 2018 €50 million was allocated to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to provide treatment for patients.
Under the Inpatient and Day Case Action Plan, which was launched earlier this year, the HSE will deliver 1.14 million hospital procedures. The NTPF will deliver additionality to the health system with the provision of 22,000 Inpatient Day Case treatments through both outsourcing and HSE insourcing.
The Action Plan places a particular focus on cataract surgery and includes a commitment to offering treatment to all cataract patients who are clinically suitable for outsourcing and who have been waiting more than 9 months for treatment.
In addition, my Department is continuing to work with the HSE and the NTPF to identify sustainable initiatives to improve waiting times. In this context, the HSE is planning to open a dedicated Cataract theatre in Nenagh Hospital later this month.
In relation to the specific query regarding waiting times in Laois and Offaly, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.