Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2024
530. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to reduce the waiting list for cataract operations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39823/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden this places on patients and their families. To address the issue, I adopted a multi-annual approach through a series of Waiting List Action Plans. Commencing in late 2021, these plans encompass short-term actions to increase capacity and activity in the short and immediate term, and longer-term reform measures to sustainably reduce both hospital waiting lists and waiting times. The 2024 Plan with a budget of €360 million, 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. Funding of €420m is being allocated to the Waiting List Action Plan for 2025. This represents an almost 17% increase (€60m) above the significant funding allocated for the Action Plan this year. The investment clearly demonstrates the Government’s ongoing commitment to sustainably reducing and reforming hospital waiting lists and waiting times. With this significant funding for 2025, we will continue to progress towards a having a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.
For Cataracts in 2024, the NTPF has approved 6 insourcing initiatives which will facilitate treatment for 3,315 patients on cataracts waiting lists. The NTPF has also approved 5 Insourcing Ophthalmology Outpatient initiatives so far in 2024 which will provide 6,295 additional appointments for patients on Ophthalmology waiting lists.
There were 6,141 patients on the public waiting list for cataract surgery as at the end of August 2024. While the number of patients on the waiting list for cataract procedures nationally has increased since the end of 2023, the number of patients waiting over 12 months has reduced in the same period.
