Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1228. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will give due consideration to extending the National Treatment Purchase Fund to include occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy to enable backlogs to be cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36179/23]
View answerThe National Treatment Purchase Fund was established under the Health (Corporate Bodies) Act 1961, with the function of providing hospital treatment for citizens and the collection and validation of information in relation to waiting lists. Its role was extended in 2009, via the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009, to provide for negotiations with private nursing homes in the context of fees payable under the Nursing Home Support Scheme.
As noted above the NTPF’s statutory remit is in respect of the provision of hospital treatment and does not extend to arranging or funding any non-hospital services, including occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and physiotherapy.
Notwithstanding the fact that Primary Legislation would be required to expand the NTPF’s role there are other core factors that may militate against a role for the NTPF in the acquisition of the type of community services referred to in the Deputies question in the short to medium term.
There is a major difference in the nature of private capacity in the context of hospitals versus community. NTPF treatments are purchased from hospitals (institutions) through panel agreements with the relevant providers, community services are predominately provided via individual practitioners.
People using HSE primary care therapies are likely to have more complex needs and, therefore, require several services at the same time, provided through a multidisciplinary team. In essence, they have a longer-term relationship with health services rather than an episodic relationship such as that provided in a hospital.
Any changes would need to be widely consulted upon, analysed, and planned prior to enactment. An NTPF style approach could potentially play a role in the future, but there are foundational issues as outlined above that need systematic reform and development.
It should also be noted that the Government's Waiting List Action Plan 2023 allocated a total of €22.7 million in funding for the provision community and primary care waiting list initiatives. €3.5 million of this has been allocated to address primary care therapy service waiting lists, and the HSE has advised that the roll-out of associated initiatives is anticipated to commence shortly. Progress on the roll out of these initiatives will be monitored and reported over the coming months.”
