Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 May 2022
221. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost for one specialist elective hospital to focus on eliminating waiting lists for gynaecology and ensuring rapid access to services. [25124/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2021, subject to the necessary approvals and requirements under the Public Spending Code being met, the Government approved a new National Elective Ambulatory Care Strategy. This new strategy aims to change the way in which day case, scheduled procedures, surgeries, scans and outpatient services can be better arranged to ensure greater capacity in the future and help to address waiting lists. The development of additional capacity will be provided through dedicated, standalone Elective Hospitals in Cork, Galway and Dublin.
It is noted that some 500 procedures and treatments will be available in the new elective care centres within a defined set of specialities, including gynaecology and the business case for same is progressed through the PSC. Accordingly, a stand-alone dedicated elective gynaecology hospital is not Government/Departmental or HSE policy and no such proposal has been considered, costed or evaluated. In addition, gynaecology has been identified as one of three priority areas in the Waiting List Action Plan (along with paediatric orthopaedics and bariatric / obesity treatments) for which €15m for this service area has been allocated to reduce waiting lists. The 2022 Waiting List Fund will enable the expansion of gynaecology ambulatory care in Tallaght, will provide access to additional theatre capacity for gynaecology activity in the Coombe and will provide additional IPDC capacity at CUMH through increased theatre sessions.
