Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 December 2018
109. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address the waiting times experienced by women for gynaecological services in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50837/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraReducing waiting times for health services is a priority and progress is being made. In Budget 2019 the Government has further increased funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) from €55m in 2018 to €75m in 2019.
Data from the NTPF indicates that, at the end of October 2018 there were a total of 613 patients waiting for an inpatient or day case Gynaecology procedure in Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) and South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. The data shows that 82.5% (506) of these patients, were waiting less than 9 months. The waiting list has seen an increase of 8% compared to the same period last year.
The South-Southwest Hospital Group advise that CUMH have engaged in a number of initiatives to reduce waiting times, including working with the NTPF to provide extra theatre sessions to treat patients and reduce timelines. The Hospital Group plan to have no patient waiting more than 18 months for a gynaecology procedure by the end of the year at either CUMH or South Infirmary.
The Waiting List data for the end of October 2018 shows an outpatient gynaecology waiting list of 3,297 in County Cork, of whom 72.5% (2,392) are waiting 9 months or less. The waiting list has seen a reduction of over 19% compared to the same period last year. South-Southwest Hospital Group advise that CUMH are running additional OPD clinics to reduce waiting times for patients.
I recently met with the CEO’s of all hospital groups and requested that they develop innovative proposals to address the number of long waiters on outpatient lists in 2019.
In 2019, the NTPF and the HSE will continue to work closely with Hospital Groups, inviting proposals to improve access for patients waiting for either Inpatient/Daycase or Outpatient procedures.
