John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the person who determines the level of specialised treatment received by patients who have transferred to the National Treatment Purchase Fund, having been previously treated for the same condition in the public health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15343/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Services delivered under the auspices of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are provided by hospital consultants who are required by the NTPF to be registered with the Fund and who are also approved by the NTPF's Chief Medical Advisor as being eligible for certification on the Medical Council's Specialist Register.

Patients are referred to consultants in the specialty which they require and to hospitals approved by the NTPF to undertake the necessary procedure. As is the case in the public hospital system, not all procedures can be carried out in all hospitals and, in the interests of optimal patient safety, patients are only referred to hospitals appropriate to their needs. I am satisfied that patients who benefit from treatment sourced through NTPF are not at any disadvantage compared to those who receive similar treatment through the public health system.