Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
763. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people resident in County Waterford waiting for a first outpatient appointment at University Hospital Waterford in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, broken down by specialty; and to provide the median and longest waiting times. [73818/25]
View answer764. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting orthopaedic outpatient appointments and orthopaedic procedures via University Hospital Waterford in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and to provide waiting times by urgency category where available. [73819/25]
View answer765. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting ear, nose and throat outpatient appointments via University Hospital Waterford in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, including median and longest waits. [73820/25]
View answer766. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of people awaiting cardiology outpatient appointments and diagnostics in the University Hospital Waterford catchment in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and the waiting times involved. [73821/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 763 to 766, inclusive, together.
It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.I published the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP) for 2025 in February, representing this Government’s continued commitment to reducing waiting times for patients and improving access to hospital care.
This year's plan sets out four overarching targets focused on reducing waiting times.With the multi annual action plan approach, we are progressing towards the ultimate vision of a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it. My Department is engaging with the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to develop the action plan for 2026, building on the progress delivered to date, renewing the focus on improving waiting times for patients, and considering the learnings from the challenges that arose in 2025.
National waiting list information by hospital, specialty, and time band is published monthly by the NTPF on its website: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm
The information is now being made available through an interactive visual tool which provides users with a much-improved way of accessing and analysing waiting list information.
The specific information requested by the Deputy which is not readily available on the NTPF website is set out at the link below. It should be noted that the health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate the average time to treatment of patients who have already received their care. The mean & median average waiting times provided to my Department by the NTPF and set out at the link, are in respect of how long patients on lists have been waiting.
With regard to the waiting times for radiology and diagnostic services, the Deputy has been provided with diagnostic reports in response to previous PQs, for the time frames requested.
