Waiting List Action Plans

A key priority for the HSE is addressing long patient waiting times and ensuring timely access to treatment and care.

As part of a multi-annual approach to tackling waiting lists, Waiting List Action Plans have been developed by the Department of Health, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund which set out ambitious targets to improve waiting lists and waiting times by delivering additional activity across acute hospital and community settings.

The 2024 Waiting List Action Plan is the programme of work to deliver sustained reductions in waiting lists numbers and waiting times this year. €360 million has been allocated to the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund for extra public and private activity and enable longer term reform. In addition, Budget 2024 provides investment of €77 million to progress specific initiatives in the community, which includes €3 million to prioritise addressing waiting lists for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

The 2023 Waiting List Action Plan End of Year Report below outlines improvements in patients’ access to care following the measures set out last year including increased hospital activity, additional out of hours clinics, accessing capacity from private hospitals and validating waiting lists.