Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2017
425. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the annual cost of running the national treatment purchase fund, NTPF; the outcomes of the NTPF; the way in which it is meeting its aim of supporting performance improvement to treat patients faster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6935/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe NTPF was established on a statutory basis in 2004. Since its establishment, the NTPF has carried out a range of functions including: arranging the provision of hospital treatment; maintaining and validating waiting list data; and making arrangements in relation to the price for long-term residential care services under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme.
Since 2012, the NTPF's role has focussed on: the maintenance, audit and quality assurance of waiting lists; pricing under the Nursing Home Support Scheme; and supporting the HSE in the delivery of a number of waiting list initiatives. During this time, the NTPF has also directly delivered a number of smaller waiting list initiatives such as the Endoscopy Initiative in 2016. Its annual budget allocation has been aligned with these functions, for 2016 this budget was €5m.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018.
Embedded in all NTPF Initiatives are procedures to report on the type, nature and cost of treatments commissioned, including controls to ensure quality patient treatment, value for money and efficient processes. My Department will also implement a robust monitoring framework in this regard.
In December 2016, I granted approval to the NTPF to dedicate €5m to a daycase waiting list initiative with the aim of ensuring that no patient will be waiting more than 18 months for a daycase procedure by 30 June 2017. Over 2,000 daycases will be managed through this process and outsourcing of treatment will commence shortly.
In addition to this daycase initiative, the NTPF will be working closely with my Department and the HSE to agree an approach to the remaining 2017 allocation as well as planning the approach for the significant increase in the allocation to address long waiting in 2018.
