Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Dec 2001

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Ivor Callely

Question:

126 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the additional activity which has been accommodated and offered to patients through the health boards by private providers in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31063/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin): My Department does not routinely collate data relating to the levels of activity provided to patients through the health boards by private providers. However, as the Deputy will be aware, there are established links with the private hospital sector. For example, in the case of the ERHA, services have been purchased in recent years from private hospitals for the treatment of public patients in a number of specialties, including cardiology, cardiac surgery, paediatric cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, ENT, urology and neurology. In other health board areas, services have also been purchased in a number of specialties including ENT, ophthalmology and cardiology. Public hospitals also purchase diagnostic services such as MRI and CT scanning.

As set out in the new document, Health Strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You, I am appointing a national purchase treatment team to manage the new treatment purchase fund which will be used to purchase treatment from private hospitals in Ireland, and from international providers. This team will work closely with the health boards, hospitals and consultants and will seek to build on existing arrangements with private providers to ensure that public patients are offered the treatment they need.