Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the level of throughput of public patients for orthopaedic surgery in the public ward of a hospital (details supplied) in County Cork for each year since 2002; the reason throughput of public patients has been steadily declining in this public ward while simultaneously the National Treatment Purchase Fund is treating a significant number of patients from the region elsewhere; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18244/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The National Treatment Purchase Fund was established as a statutory body in May 2004 to treat public patients who are longest on surgical in-patient waiting lists. Access to treatment under the auspices of the NTPF is open to patients who are waiting more than three months on a surgical waiting list and who may qualify for treatment through it. In general, non-surgical treatment does not qualify for consideration under the Fund. It is open to the patient, or anyone acting on his/her behalf, to contact the Fund directly in relation to each case. The NTPF operate a nationwide lo-call line for this purpose. A person may also be referred to the Fund through the NTPF Liaison Officer attached to the hospital.

he NTPF to date has arranged treatment for 100,000 people. The 100,000 patients are a combination of approximately 78,000 in-patients and 22,000 out-patients. The NTPF has consistently increased the numbers of patients for whom it has arranged treatment annually and is on target to do so again in 2008.

Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular issue raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.