Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the reason there are so many hip replacements carried out under the national treatment purchase fund when other patients are waiting for an orthopaedic outpatients appointment for between three and five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28936/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The national treatment purchase fund, NTPF, was established as one of the key actions for dealing with public hospital waiting lists arising from the health strategy. It is used for the purpose of treating public patients who have been waiting longest for surgery. Up to the end of September over 35,000 patients have had treatment arranged for them by the NTPF.

The management of outpatient waiting lists is, in the first instance, a matter for the National Hospitals Office and the individual hospitals concerned. However, earlier this year I asked the national treatment purchase fund, NTPF, to examine the position with a view to further assessing the needs of patients waiting longest on outpatient waiting lists and the most appropriate clinical pathways and protocols required for their care.

As a result the NTPF set up a number of pilot projects around the country. The intention is that the longest waiters in a number of specialties will receive consultations at outpatient level in private hospitals. It is envisaged that between 4,000 to 5,000 patients will have outpatient appointments arranged for them. Monitoring and evaluation arrangements will be put in place by the NTPF in order to assess the outcome of the outpatient pilot projects. I understand that the pilot projects are under way and I expect to receive a report from the NTPF in due course.