Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 May 2025
446. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health regarding the ongoing cancellation of elective and emergency surgeries at University Hospital Limerick, the reason for these cancellations; the steps being taken to address the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23081/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra447. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of surgeries cancelled on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis at University Hospital Limerick since January 2024, by type of procedure and reason for cancellation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23082/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra448. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of emergency versus elective surgery cancellations at University Hospital Limerick and how these figures compare with other model 4 hospitals across the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23083/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra449. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if any formal risk assessments or patient safety audits have been conducted at University Hospital Limerick in relation to the cancellation of surgeries; if so, if she will publish their findings and detail the impact this is having on patient safety; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23084/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra451. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if her Department has set performance targets or issued intervention plans to the UL Hospitals Group in response to persistent surgical cancellations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23086/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 446, 447, 448, 449 and 451 together.
This Government fully acknowledges the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when hospital appointments and procedures are cancelled.
While every effort is made to avoid these postponements of planned procedures, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand, and unforeseen circumstances that may impact a service.
Patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically aligned and prioritised way, hospitals follow HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
In respect of reporting of cancellations, to improve the long-term efficiency of the service the HSE worked with hospitals and hospital groups in 2022 to develop a process for the collection and collation of data on cancellations. The cancellation data does not measure that a procedure or appointment did not go ahead, rather that the procedure/appointment did not go ahead on the date originally scheduled.
Cancelled hospital procedures/appointments are, where appropriate, rescheduled as early as possible with priority given to patients requiring time-sensitive and urgent treatment
The National Inpatient, Day Case, Planned Procedure (IDPP), and GI Endoscopy waiting list management protocol 2024 issued by the National Treatment Purchase Fund requires hospitals to reschedule elective care appointments within six weeks of cancellation, subject to patient confirmation regarding their availability to attend.
In relation to the particular queries raised, as these are service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
