Gino Kenny: disputes minister's claim that waiting lists stabilised
Gino Kenny challenged the minister's claim that hospital waiting lists have been stabilised, saying the reality is "very, very, very different" and that over 900,000 people are currently on public hospital waiting lists. He described that scale as completely unacceptable and pressed the minister for clarification of the figures.
Main allegation
Gino Kenny said the minister, speaking at the Fianna Fáil Airdaes, had claimed waiting lists were stabilised. Kenny countered that over 900,000 people are on some form of public hospital waiting list and called that situation completely unacceptable.
Minister's response
The minister responded that the outpatient list has increased while the inpatient list has stabilised, and that performance varies across different categories of care. He said some areas have improved while others remain behind targets.
Diagnostics and innovations
The minister highlighted innovations in access to diagnostics, including GP-led diagnostic services, as having increased access, throughput and activity in relation to waiting lists. These measures were presented as contributing to better diagnostic capacity.
Funding and performance targets
The minister referred to a waiting list action plan published last February with 350 million allocated and further staff funding for 2023, with 443 million now allocated. He said the programme is ahead of target on scopes, a little behind on inpatient day cases and significantly behind target on outpatient waits.
Closing exchange
Kenny pressed for quantification of the minister's statements and the minister reiterated the breakdown of performance and funding. The exchange ended with brief thanks from Kenny.
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T-shirt, over the weekend at the Fianna Fáil Airdaes, Minister Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health, made a claim that waiting lists in relation to our health service have been stabilised. Now the reality is very, very, very different. And the reality says that over 900,000 people at this present time are on some form of public hospital waiting lists. Now that's completely unacceptable in relation to getting public health care. So can you quantify what Minister Donnelly has said and the reality of people waiting for simple medical procedures? Well, I really want to commend the widespread interest in the Fianna Fáil Airdaes at the weekend from all sides of the house. It's very heartening indeed. But just to say that the outpatient list has increased, the inpatient list has stabilised. And there's different performances in different categories, to be honest with you. So a lot of good innovations have worked in terms of access to diagnostics, to GP-led diagnostic services, has been quite innovative and impactful in respect of greater access and greater throughput and greater activity in relation to waiting lists more generally. And that will continue. And the waiting list action plan was published last February, 350 million was allocated. Additional staff are further for 2023, 443 million now has been allocated. It's ahead of target on scopes, a little bit behind target on inpatient day cases, significant behind target on outpatient. That's what the Minister is saying to me. Thank you. Thank you very much. Now the region of the... That's what I want to call the Rural for agency. Now the region of the... Okay, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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