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Health Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 September 2021

Wednesday, 15 September 2021

Ceisteanna (580, 583, 607, 625)

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

580. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to an increase in persons waiting for an appointment with the National Gender Service; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that wait times have lengthened; and the steps he is taking to ensure increased resources and timely access to transgender healthcare for those who require it. [43200/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

David Cullinane

Ceist:

583. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if steps will be taken to address the unacceptably long waiting list for the National Gender Service; his plans to revise the role of the National Gender Service in gatekeeping transgender healthcare to allow transgender persons access care in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43210/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Emer Higgins

Ceist:

607. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the current waiting time for assessment by the HSE National Gender Service; and the action that is being taken to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43326/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

625. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time consultant psychiatrists with a special interest in gender identity employed by the HSE; if this number will be further increased; and the locations in which these consultants are based. [43393/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 580, 583, 607 and 625 together.

It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last eighteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack. While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021 and the associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times. However, the HSE advise that acute services are now almost all fully restored to pre cyber-attack levels, and are operating in line with relevant Covid-19 protocols.

The Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are focusing on improving access to elective care in order to reduce waiting times for patients. These plans include increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, providing virtual clinics and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.

The Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund are currently working on a Multiannual Waiting List Plan to address waiting lists and bring them in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years.

I am committed to the development by the HSE of a well-governed and patient-centred health care service for adults and children in the transgender community, in line with the Programme for Government.  

As the specific issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. 

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