National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004

Tuesday, 11 May 2004

Questions (266)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

297 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to reports that private health care providers in Britain have surcharged the national health service for procedures carried out on public patients and that this has resulted in significant extra costs to the NHS, over and above the cost of such procedures which would have accrued under direct provision by the NHS; if this overcharging also applies to services provided through the national treatment purchase fund; if he will investigate the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13724/04]

Written answers

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Where it is not possible to treat patients within a reasonable period in Ireland, either in public or private hospitals, the national treatment purchase fund may refer public patients for treatment abroad, having regard to quality, availability and cost. My Department understands that the national treatment purchase fund negotiates prices directly with four private hospitals in the United Kingdom. My Department has been assured by the fund that the prices negotiated by the national treatment purchase fund compare favourably with the comparative benchmarks available for the costs of the vast majority of procedures.