John McGuinness
Ceist:1233. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early date for an operation will be arranged at a private clinic for a person (details supplied). [21673/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 8 September 2020
Ceisteanna (1233)
Freagraí scríofa
Improving improve waiting times for patients to access hospital treatment is a key commitment for Government and in 2020 €100 million was allocated to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to provide treatment for patients.
The NTPF works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic.
The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on the Inpatient/Daycase Waiting List. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.