Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1100. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which progress has taken place in recent months in respect of reducing the waiting lists for various procedures in respect of scoliosis and spina bifida with particular reference to availing of every opportunity to reduce these waiting lists and to show results on a weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38103/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Reducing waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures remains a commitment of this Government. Earlier this year I approved an ambitious plan for Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) to reduce the number of children waiting for spinal orthopaedic procedures (scoliosis and spina bifida) by year end. Both current and capital funding totalling €17.43 million has been approved for this initiative. The plan will result in an additional 67 spinal fusions and 28 spinal other procedures for children with Scoliosis, as well as an additional 141 procedures for children with Spina Bifida. The plan also allocates substantial paediatric orthopaedic procedures at Cappagh orthopaedic hospital, with 720 additional procedures planned for the year. The impact of the plan has already been recorded with increased activity year to date, with 239 procedures carried out year to date on 1st July, compared with 178 procedures in the same period last year.

This latest initiative is further evidence of this Government’s commitment to address acute hospital waiting lists. The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan allocates €350 million to the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to improve waiting times. This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1101. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which ready access to treatment for patients requiring cardiovascular, endoscopy and oncology is expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38104/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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It is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. While significant work continues to positively impact on waiting times and improve pathways to elective care, acute hospitals have been impacted by operational challenges arising from surges in cases related to the Omicron variants.

The HSE has confirmed to the Department that 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 are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.

The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care, including through increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services, providing virtual clinics, and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.

The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, which was launched on the 25th of February, allocates €350 million to the HSE and NTPF to reduce waiting lists. Under this plan the Department, HSE, and NTPF will deliver urgent additional capacity for the treatment of patients, as well as investing in longer term reforms to bring sustained reductions in waiting lists.

This is the first stage of an ambitious multi-annual waiting list programme, which is currently under development in the Department of Health. Between them, these plans will work to support short, medium, and long term initiatives to reduce waiting times and provide the activity needed in years to come.

In relation to endoscopy and cardiovascular waiting lists, acute hospital Outpatient and Inpatient/Day case waiting lists are published monthly, broken down by specialty, and are available on the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) website at: ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm

With regard to oncology, key performance indicators for access to oncology services are outlined in the HSE National Service Plan and performance profiles and are published on the HSE website at: hse.ie/eng/services/publications/performancereports/