Letterkenny's dramatic reduction in waiting lists
Dramatic reductions in patient waiting list times have been achieved in Letterkenny General as a result of the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
Ms. Mary Harney, Minister for Health and Children, has acknowledged the dramatic reductions in waiting times at Letterkenny General Hospital over the last two years.
Speaking at the launch of the 2009 National Treatment Purchase Fund Annual Report last week, Minister Harney noted the huge success of the NTPF which has, to date, treated 170,000 public patients and reduced median waiting times to 2.5 months in 2010.
In 2008, there were over 4,000 patients waiting in excess of a year for surgery. This number is now down to 611.
Minister Harney paid special tribute to the management team and clinicians at Letterkenny General Hospital for their achievements in reducing waiting times for surgery. In her speech at the launch of the Annual Report, Minister Harney congratulated the hospital on its achievement in reducing the number of patients waiting for over a year for their surgery from almost 1,500 in 2008 to 26 in 2010.
Pat O'Byrne, CEO of the NTPF, told attendees that the Fund would be continuing its efforts with individual hospitals to ensure that no patient in Ireland is waiting over 12 months for surgery and would be further raising the bar by working with hospitals towards a 9 months' maximum wait for surgery.
Mr O'Byrne also acknowledged the significant progress made in the North West by both Letterkenny General Hospital and Sligo General Hospital in reducing their waiting lists.
Commenting on the Annual Report, Hospital Manager Sean Murphy welcomed the recognition of Letterkenny General Hospital's achievement in improving patient access. He said: "This major reduction in our waiting times for surgery is a reflection of the tremendous work undertaken by the Waiting List Management Team and the medical, nursing and support staff at the hospital.
"Despite the financial pressures which will always be a challenge for us, our focus on improving access for our patients has resulted in Letterkenny General Hospital achieving the biggest reduction in the number of patients waiting over 12 months for surgery in Ireland for the second year in a row."
Murphy commented that for many years Letterkenny General was cited as the worst performing hospital in the country for waiting lists and said it is now encouraging to be cited as an example of best practice.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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