Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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This matter relates to procedures which have been available on the National Treatment Purchase Fund. The patient was to have this treatment carried out under the fund but the procedure has been cancelled for some reason. I have had a number of complaints from different people in cases where the National Treatment Purchase Fund has not fulfilled its obligations as laid down by Government. The Government seems to be shamefully manipulating public opinion and is preying on the fears and vulnerability of patients. The National Treatment Purchase Fund is not doing its job. It is like the rest of the health service and is adding to the concerns and fears of patients. They are suffering because of the way the Government is managing the health service.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund was intended to focus on patients waiting the longest for procedures, but it has failed to fulfil that commitment in the case of the patient to whom this matter refers. I have chosen this specific case to hear the Minister of State's response. The National Treatment Purchase Fund has failed in its obligations on a number of occasions. It has promised to do this procedure for this patient and others but has not done so. It has stated that it will no longer carry out this procedure.

The 30,000 people who have had procedures carried out under the National Treatment Purchase Fund are the fortunate ones in some respects. However the treatment they have received is exactly the same as that received by the 4 million patients in acute hospitals over the same period. The Government seems to be using the National Treatment Purchase Fund as some form of public relations machine to make themselves look good.

The focus of the National Treatment Purchase Fund should be changed. It is supposed to focus on procedures that prove difficult to be carried out within the health service. The fund should focus on procedures involving more complex surgery or on procedures not commonly carried out in this country, but this is not the case. The NTPF focuses on procedures such as gall bladder, varicose veins and skin biopsies. These are very simple procedures. Reform of the health care services has been promised every year for the past nine years and these procedures should be carried out in the acute hospitals.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund should be used for neurological procedures and neurological surgery. The case to which I refer is a neurological procedure that may lead to surgery at some future date for this patient. This is the way forward for the NTPF. We are all aware of the long delays within the neurological services and the significant delays for neurological procedures. This is an opportunity for the Government to show me and the House what it intends to do for my patient who needs this specific procedure and to give an indication of where its commitment lies.

I hope that the Minister of State's response will not consist of the usual bluff stating the matter is being looked at and giving a lame excuse for the reason this procedure is not being carried out for my patient. I will pursue the matter further if the answer is inadequate.

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I thank Deputy Twomey for raising this matter on the Adjournment of the House. I am replying on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

As the Deputy will be aware, operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services rests with the Health Service Executive. This includes responsibility for the provision of pain management clinics. The provision of spinal simulator devices for pain control are provided publicly at a number of hospitals, including St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Beaumont Hospital and Waterford Regional Hospital. Demand for this service has risen dramatically in the past 12 to 18 months.

The primary role of the National Treatment Purchase Fund is to arrange treatment for public patients who have been waiting longest for surgery. To date the NTPF has arranged treatment for 40,000 patients. This is not just a cosmetic exercise.

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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There were 4 million patients who were discharged from acute hospitals over the same period.

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy should talk to the 40,000 patients who were waiting for treatment.

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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If the Minister of State were doing his job——

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have met many of them and they are delighted. I did not interrupt the Deputy when he was speaking.

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I will let the Minister of State go on with his spin.

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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It is now the case that, in most instances, anyone waiting more than three months will be facilitated by the fund.

In 2005 the NTPF set up a number of out-patient pilot projects throughout the country. The intention was that those waiting the longest in a number of specialties would receive consultations at out-patient level in private hospitals. More than 4,400 patients had out-patient appointments arranged for them. An additional 3,100 patients were removed from out-patient waiting lists as part of the validation process.

The NTPF has advised that procedures to insert spinal cord stimulators have not been cancelled. The fund has informed the Department that treatment will proceed for patients who have been scheduled. However, I understand that the NTPF will engage in discussions with the Health Service Executive to ensure that the needs of patients who require spinal cord stimulator insertion are prioritised and met.

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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When will the patient be seen?

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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As soon as possible.

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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That could be in nine years.

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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We have taken 40,000 off the waiting list.

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I kept the question as simple as possible.

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
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They are not being cancelled; they will be seen.

Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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They are not being seen.