Vol. 560 No. 1
665 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons who have availed of the treatment purchase scheme in the South Eastern Health Board area; and the number of persons listed for treatment in 2003. [1331/03]
Arising from the health strategy, Quality and Fairness – a health system for you, one of the key actions for dealing with the public hospital waiting lists was the establishment of the national treatment purchase fund. The NTPF was set up in April 2002 and referred its first patients for treatment at the end of June. Health boards and hospitals have been asked to identify public patients waiting longest on in-patient lists in order that they can be offered treatment under this initiative.
The NTPF is initially concentrating on adults who have been waiting on in-patient lists for more than 12 months and children waiting over six months for a surgical procedure. Patients who satisfy these criteria may apply to their GP, hospital consultant or local health board liaison person to seek to have their treatment carried out under the NTPF. Alternatively, patients can telephone the NTPF's lo-call number at 1890 720 820.
