Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 May 2024
21. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the degree to which he and his Department continue to concentrate on waiting lists in respect of health procedures in general throughout the country; the extent to which adequate success is being achieved in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19769/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the multi-annual approach to reducing waiting lists an times, I published the 2024 Waiting List Action Plan on 27th March. Total funding of €360 million has been provided this year which continues to encompass the two-pronged approach of short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists and times. This approach is having a positive impact, with each of the WLAPs to-date having achieved a reduction in the overall waiting list numbers (5.4% reduction from September to December 2021, and 4.1% and 2.7% annual reductions for WLAP 2022 and 2023 respectively).
The 2024 Plan builds on the work of previous plans which have achieved significant progress in overall waiting list reduction and in addressing long waiting times, against a backdrop of significantly increased demand for scheduled care services. This year’s plan aims to achieve a 6% reduction in the overall number of patients on waiting lists while three of the four overarching targets in the Plan are specifically focused on improving waiting times.
As at the end of March, we are broadly on target. Whilst higher than year end 2023, the profiled trajectory of referrals is in line with projections, and waiting list always increase in Q1 due to the impact of ED pressures over the winter.
