Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2021
562. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health the level of activity under the National Treatment Purchase Fund during the most recent 12 months for which data is available; the main categories of procedure delivered; and the waiting time under the respective procedures which would trigger an offer of support from the fund for private treatment. [47553/21]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy regarding the level of activity during the most recent 12 months, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has provided a summary of the treatments and appointments arranged from September 2020 to August 2021 in the attached table. The NTPF has also provided accompanying tables showing the breakdown of treatments arranged by specialty for Outpatients and Inpatient/Daycases.
Table 1 –Results for September 2020 to August 2021
|
Description |
Number of Patient Episodes |
|
Number of treatments arranged Inpatient Day Case & G.I. Scopes |
34,134 |
|
Outpatient appointments arranged |
50,220 |
|
Authorisations for Diagnostics Utilised |
45,889 |
|
*Patient Stays in NTPF funded additional beds |
2,714 |
|
Total number of Patient Episodes |
132,957 |
*September to December 2020
No. of NTPF-Funded Treatments Arranged 1st Sep- 31st Aug 2021 inclusive
|
Inpatient, Day Case and GI Scopes |
|
|
Specialty |
No. of Treatments Arranged |
|
Cardiology |
1,438 |
|
Cardio-Thoracic Surgery |
107 |
|
Clinical Immunology |
406 |
|
Gastro-Enterology |
5,166 |
|
Gastro-Intestinal Surgery |
897 |
|
General Medicine |
1,755 |
|
General Paediatrics |
85 |
|
General Surgery |
9,304 |
|
Gynaecology |
529 |
|
Maxillo-Facial |
42 |
|
Neurosurgery |
43 |
|
Ophthalmology |
5,524 |
|
Orthopaedics |
2,580 |
|
Otolaryngology (ENT) |
1,385 |
|
Pain Relief |
328 |
|
Plastic Surgery |
243 |
|
Respiratory Medicine |
133 |
|
Urology |
3,620 |
|
Vascular Surgery |
549 |
|
Grand Total |
34,134 |
OP Insourcing Appointments Arranged Sep 2020 - Aug 2021
|
Specialty |
No. of Appts Arranged |
|
Audiology |
371 |
|
Cardiology |
2,950 |
|
Dermatology |
6,899 |
|
Endocrinology |
635 |
|
Gastroenterology |
249 |
|
General Paediatrics |
1,134 |
|
General Surgery |
629 |
|
Gynaecology |
2,462 |
|
Haematology |
442 |
|
Immunology |
84 |
|
Max Fax |
11 |
|
Neurology |
2,500 |
|
Neurophysiology |
191 |
|
Neurosurgery |
1,252 |
|
Ophthalmology |
6,487 |
|
Orthopaedic Surgery |
9,250 |
|
Otolarynology (ENT) |
7,855 |
|
Pain Management |
575 |
|
Plastic Surgery |
1,153 |
|
Respiratory Medicine |
655 |
|
Rheumatology |
1,636 |
|
Urology |
2,136 |
|
Vascular Surgery |
664 |
|
Grand Total |
50,220 |
With regard to the waiting time which would trigger an offer of support, the NTPF has advised my Department that it arranges treatment for the longest waiting, clinically suitable patients waiting for each procedure. The wait time varies over time, by procedure and by hospital. The NTPF has further advised that it is currently arranging treatment for patients waiting six months, in most cases, who are listed for Inpatient/Daycase procedures which the NTPF procures.
