Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 February 2019
148. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health if the reason the methodology of the cross-border directive will be investigated by which patients are being treated within a few weeks cannot be applied to the National Treatment Purchase Fund in order to expedite the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7441/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the matter raised by the Deputy, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) advise that under the terms of the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) they hold with referring hospitals, all referring hospitals should contact patients with an offer of NTPF funded treatment within 2 weeks of receiving an NTPF authorisation of treatment. Subsequent to this, the transfer of the patient’s clinical file to the treating hospital should occur within two weeks of the patient’s acceptance of the offer of NTPF funded treatment.
The NTPF further advise that the treating hospital should ensure that treatment is completed within a maximum of six weeks from receipt of the relevant referring hospital Patient Health Records and Clinical Authorisation Notice (CAN).
All timelines as set out by the NTPF are maximum timelines.
