Written answer
Hospital Waiting Lists
The Minister provided NTPF dermatology waiting-list figures and categories, noting treatment averages unavailable, while mean and median waits for current patients were supplied.
3654. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients currently on the dermatology outpatient waiting list at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore; the number categorised as urgent versus routine; the average waiting time for each category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62073/26]
Comment on this
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.
The multi-annual Action Plan approach initiated in September 2021 is focused on improving waiting times for patients, and the Waiting Time Action Plan (WTAP) 2026, embodies the Government’s commitment to reducing waiting times for patients, thereby improving access to hospital care. Significant progress has been made under this approach in reducing the length of time patients are waiting.
With the 2026 plan, we will continue to build upon the progress delivered to date under the multi annual action plan approach, moving 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.
National waiting list information by hospital, specialty, and time band is published monthly by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) on its website: https://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 in the attached spreadsheet provided by the NTPF.
The health system does not collect the data necessary to calculate the time to treatment of patients who have already received their care, which would be necessary to calculate the average waiting time for patients. The mean and median average waiting times provided to my Department by the NTPF and set out in the attached, are in respect of how long patients on lists have been waiting.