National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 March 2006

Thursday, 2 March 2006

Questions (114, 115)

Enda Kenny

Question:

106 Mr. Kenny asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if people awaiting neurosurgery can be treated under the National Treatment Purchase Fund scheme; the number of people who had neurosurgery on the National Treatment Purchase Fund scheme to date; if anyone was sent abroad to have such surgery; if anyone was treated in a hospital other than Beaumont Hospital in the Republic of Ireland; if any were treated in a private hospital in the Republic of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8332/06]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

In general, patients waiting more than three months on an inpatient neurosurgical waiting list can qualify for treatment under the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF. However, within this specialty there are some treatments of a very specialised nature requiring the skills of specific consultant neurosurgeons and multidisciplinary teams and for reasons of complexity these cases are best treated within the public sector.

To date, over 500 people have been referred for neurosurgical procedures under the NTPF. The majority have been referred to private hospitals in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. A small number have received treatment in Beaumont Hospital and Cork University Hospital.

Question No. 107 answered with QuestionNo. 42.

Question No. 108 answered with QuestionNo. 8.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

109 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to whether the National Treatment Purchase Fund has issued instructions to its employees not to deal with inquiries from Oireachtas Members or other elected representatives; if the Health Service Executive has issued similar instructions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8465/06]

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

My Department has been informed by the chief executive of the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, that it continues to deal with queries and representations from Deputies on behalf of constituents. If the Deputy has a particular instance in mind, he should contact the chief executive of the fund directly in order to resolve the matter.

The Deputy will be aware that arrangements have been put in place by the Health Service Executive, HSE, to facilitate the provision of information to Oireachtas Members. I wrote to Members on 19 January 2006 advising of these arrangements and providing the contact details for that purpose.

Question No. 110 with QuestionNo. 38.

Question No. 111 answered with QuestionNo. 27.

Question No. 112 answered with QuestionNo. 102.