Services for eligible patients at Beaumont Hospital are provided under an arrangement with the ERHA. My Department has asked the authority's regional chief executive to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.
The health strategy sets out a comprehensive set of actions to reduce waiting times for public patients. The target is that by the end of 2004 all public patients requiring admission to hospital will be scheduled to commence treatment within a maximum of three months of referral from an out-patient department. Intermediate targets have been set to achieve this aim to ensure that the focus is being turned towards people who are a long time waiting.
While the waiting list initiative will continue to fund additional elective activity, a new dedicated national treatment purchase fund is being used to target those waiting longest for treatment by purchasing treatments for public patients in private hospitals. To date the NTPF has treated up to 1,600 patients and from January 2003 it expects to refer 600 patients per month for treatment.
