Micheál Martin
Ceist:403. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that were treated under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23344/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 29 May 2018
Ceisteanna (403)
Freagraí scríofa
Improving waiting times for hospital procedures is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and in 2018 €50 million was allocated to the NTPF to provide treatment for patients. The Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan 2018 which was published in April outlines the combined impact of HSE and NTPF activity in 2018 to reduce the number of patients waiting for treatment.
Under the Action Plan, it is estimated that the NTPF initiatives in 2018 will enable the provision of treatment for up to 20,000 patients on the Inpatient/Day Case Waiting List across a range of specialties and procedures, and 4,000 Gastro Intestinal Scopes through both outsourcing and HSE insourcing initiatives.
Under the Action Plan, the NTPF commits to offer treatment to all clinically suitable patients waiting more than 9 months for treatment in a number of high volume specialities - including cataract, hip and knee replacement, tonsils and scopes.
This will mean that by the end of 2018 we will expect to see a significant reduction in the number waiting for a procedure to under 70,000 - from a peak of 86,100 in July 2017.
The NTPF has advised that up to the end of April 2018, over 11,900 patients have been authorised for treatment. Almost 6,500 of these patients have accepted an offer of treatment and 4,816 of these patients have already received their procedure.