Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The national treatment purchase fund has substantial capacity to treat patients and will continue to focus on reducing waiting times even further. The fund's target is to treat more than 12,000 this year and has the capacity to treat a minimum of 1,000 patients per month — 800 in Ireland and 200 in four private hospitals in England. Maintaining referrals at this level will result in waiting times for surgical operations being reduced in line with the health strategy targets of three to six months. Almost half of all hospitals now refer patients waiting between six and 12 months. Nine hospitals — 38% — refer patient waiting three to six months, 11 hospitals — 46% — refer patients waiting six to 12 months, and four hospitals — 16% — refer patients waiting 12 to 24 months.

Much progress has been made to reduce waiting times and we are on track to achieve the targets set out in the health strategy. The transfer of responsibility for waiting list figures to the national treatment purchase fund will result in a more accurate and complete picture of the numbers waiting and, more importantly, the length of time they wait for their procedures. The important issue is that patients wait for treatment for the shortest possible time and that the lists tell us correctly how many patients are available for treatment.

It is important to stress that treatment can be fast-tracked for patients who are willing to travel outside their local hospital or health board area. The fund has capacity available to treat more patients. Since the fund commenced arranging operations for patients, some 13,000 patients have been treated. It is also important to note that in a recent survey of patients who had their treatment arranged by the national treatment purchase fund, some 98.5% of patients treated were either satisfied or very satisfied with their treatment. Surely the level of satisfaction in that survey is testament to the significant progress being made by the national treatment purchase fund. Can we have some acknowledgement from the Opposition on that achievement? A clear message is being delivered here. There is no need for the majority of patients to wait more than six months for elective surgery.

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