Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
885 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself with the current referrals in the Mid-Western Health Board under the national treatment purchase fund; the reason there is a low level of take-up on referral offers; if he will provide a tabular statement of referrals and take-up offers for 2002 and 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22174/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraUp to the end of August 2004, a total of 887 patients from the mid-west region have been offered treatment under the national treatment purchase fund, NTPF, with 446 patients accepting an offer of treatment. My Department has been informed by the NTPF that the patient uptake of the NTPF option from the mid-west region is out of line with the position nationally. The NTPF and the Mid-Western Health Board are conducting an analysis of the take-up rate.
The NTPF is confident that further opportunities exist to increase the take-up of referrals from the mid-west region. To assist this process, the NTPF has agreed to reduce the eligible time for patients from the mid-west to three months for all specialities.
