Vol. 561 No. 1
422 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients from hospital waiting lists who have been referred for treatment outside the jurisdiction; the locations to which they have been sent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3753/03]
Arising from the health strategy, Quality and Fairness – A Health System for You, one of the key actions for dealing with 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. To date, a total of 76 patients have received treatment outside Ireland, i.e. Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom, under the initiative. Treatment has been provided in Northern Ireland at the North-West Independent Hospital, Derry, and in the UK at BUPA Hospitals in Manchester and Liverpool and in the Hampshire Clinic. The total number of patients treated at the end of January 2003 was 2,350.
