Waiting List Improvements

We are transforming the patient experience through strategic reforms and innovative approaches to scheduled care. Our commitment is to ensure timely and efficient healthcare services for all patients awaiting treatment.

Access Accelerator

The Access Accelerator is a new HSE initiative from Access and Integration, delivered in collaboration with HSE Spark and the Department of Health. This call aims to reduce waiting times through frontline-led innovation in four key clinical areas: 

  • Dermatology 
  • Ophthalmology
  • Otolaryngology (ENT) 
  • Plastic Surgery

As Ireland moves toward Regional Health Areas (RHAs) and delivers on the Sláintecare vision, the Access Accelerator supports the creation of integrated care pathways that ensure people can access the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

About the Call:

We are seeking innovations that will: 

  • Deliver measurable reductions in waiting times. 
  • Demonstrate a clear path to scaling across the wider health system.
  • Support more timely, efficient, and person-centred access to care.

Projects can come from any stage of innovation; from proven local successes to new, disruptive models of care.

Project Categories:

Category 1: Building on Proven Success – Supporting projects that have already shown positive results at site level and are ready to be sustained or spread.

Category 2: Optimisation / Low-Disruption – Innovations that can be integrated into existing care pathways with minimal change.

Category 3: Transformative / High-Impact Pilots – Ambitious innovations that may challenge how things are currently done but could deliver major benefits if the system evolves to support them.

Funding Available:

  • Up to €50,000 for smaller-scale or optimisation projects 
  • Up to €100,000 for larger-scale or multi-site projects
  • €100,000+ for transformative pilots requiring more extensive testing

Key Dates:

Call Opens: 23 October 2025

Information Webinar: 7 November

Applications Close: 19 November 2025

Pitch Week: 8 December 2025

Funding Decisions Announced: 19 December 2025

Apply Now

Applications are open to HSE and Section 38 staff working in the public health system. Projects must be clinician-led, and multidisciplinary teams (clinical, non clinical, operational) are encouraged.

Please review the relevant guidance document for your clinical area before applying:

Access Accelerator Guidance Document Dermatology (PDF, size 1.5 MB, 8 pages)

Access Accelerator Guidance Document Ophthalmology (PDF, size 1.7 MB, 8 pages)

Access Accelerator Guidance Document ENT (PDF, size 1.2 MB, 8 pages)

Access Accelerator Guidance Document Plastic Surgery (PDF, size 1.1 MB, 8 pages)

When ready, submit your proposal through the Access Accelerator Application Form.

Need Help? Join the information webinar on 7th November

Connect with the Access and Integration team at Access.Programme@hse.ie or contact the team at Spark@hse.ie for support.

Scheduled Care Network

The Access Programme have established a Scheduled Care Network to build a community of people who will share their knowledge, experience and expertise to enhance the delivery of scheduled care.

The purpose of this network is to:

  • Establish a dedicated network to improve communication and training, and provide access to relevant information, tools, and expertise;
  • Enhance access to, and delivery of scheduled care by supporting the implementation of the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP); and
  • Incorporating insights from patient experiences to drive continuous improvement.

To enable this, we will be running regular webinars to provide helpful information, tools and insights to support staff to achieve the targets set out in the Waiting List Action Plan (WLAP).

This first webinar is a brief overview of the pillars of WLAP 25 which aims to deliver capacity, enhance reform, and support the enabling of scheduled care services to improve access to care for patients.

Scheduled Care Network Webinar Series

Webinar 1

Waiting List Action Plan - ‘Beyond the Wait’ (video)

Webinar 1 WLAP 2025 Beyond the Wait (PDF, size 1.8 MB, 23 pages)

Webinar 2

Waiting List Action Plan- ‘Beyond the Wait- Reform in Action’ (video)

Webinar 2 WLAP 2025 Beyond the Wait- Reform in Action (PDF, size 2.23 MB, 30 pages)

Webinar 3

Webinar-3-WLAP-2025-Beyond-the-Wait - Scheduled Care Network Webinar.pdf (size 3.2 MB)

Helpful-resources-for-VEC-Updated-05-2025.pdf (size 290.4 KB)

Webinar 4

Waiting List Action Plan - ‘Beyond the Wait’ (video)

Webinar 4 WLAP 2025 Beyond the Wait (PDF, size 3.4 MB, 43 pages)

Webinar 5

Webinar 5 WLAP 2025 Beyond the Wait (PDF, 3.38, 37 pages)

Webinar 6

Webinar 6 WLAP 2025 Beyond the Wait ‘Intelligent Automation’ and the HSE Health App (PDF, 2.42MB, 24 pages)

Patient Initiated Review (PIR)

Empowering patients to self-manage their outpatient journey.

Patient Initiated Review (PIR) is a ground-breaking approach where patients are empowered to self-manage their own outpatient journey. Suitable candidates for PIR can proactively schedule follow-up outpatient appointments as needed, such as during symptom flare-ups. This patient-centred initiative not only enhances the overall healthcare experience but also optimises appointment availability, allowing us to extend care to more patients on outpatient waiting lists.

The 2024 Waiting List Action Plan has mandated that PIR is rolled out in all hospitals across all specialties, where clinically appropriate to do so.

Introduction to PIR

Introduction to PIR by Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer (video 2 minutes 27 seconds)
In this video, Dr Colm Henry outlines the concept of PIR, its origins, and importance in healthcare improvements

The PIR process explained by Dr Mike O’Connor, National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead for Acute Operations (video 2 minutes 35 seconds)
In this video, Dr Mike O’Connor introduces how the PIR process works

Testimonials from clinical and operational teams about PIR (video one minute 49 seconds)
In this video, clinical and operational staff describe how PIR has worked for them

Patient Initiated Review FAQ (PDF, size 218 KB, 5 pages)
This document provides all the information required to implement and deliver PIR in Ireland

Support for implementing PIR

Patient Initiated Review National Guidance Document (PDF, size 2.1 MB, 36 pages)
This document addresses some of the commonly asked questions providers and system users have asked around implementing PIR

PIR Inclusion and Exclusion criteria (PDF, size 533 KB, 40 pages)
This document provides sample inclusion and exclusion criteria for a range of specialities

PIR Training (video 11 minutes 32 seconds)
This video provides step-by-step training for staff implementing PIR

PIR webinars

PIR webinar for clinicians (video 28 minutes 39 seconds)
This webinar features clinicians in Irish hospitals speaking about their experience of using PIR

Central Referrals Office (CRO)

Streamlining care with CRO

The Central Referrals Office (CRO) is a key component in our mission to streamline patient care. By centralising all referrals, including those from GPs, consultants, and specialist clinics, the CRO ensures that each patient's needs are assessed, prioritised, and addressed promptly.

Centralisation of referral receipt, which is the first step in the CRO process, has been mandated in all hospitals for all specialities as part of the 2024 Waiting List Action Plan.

Central Referrals National Guidance Document (PDF, size 3.1 MB, 50 pages)

Central Referrals Office National Guidance Document (PDF, size 4 MB, 78 pages)

DNA Strategy

Improving attendance with the DNA Strategy

The DNA Strategy ensures that patients receive communication in relation to their appointment at the most appropriate intervals, highlighting the importance of attending an appointment. By providing clear and accessible options for appointment cancellation, we can reallocate time slots to other patients, which minimises wait times and maximises clinic efficiency.

Contact Details

For more information please email Access.programme@hse.ie