Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of referrals from Letterkenny General Hospital to Ballykelly under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; the number of patients at Letterkenny General Hospital who have declined a referral through the NTPF for years 2005, 2006 and 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26727/08]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the efforts made by the National Treatment Purchase Fund to assist patients at Letterkenny General Hospital who do not wish to be referred outside the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26728/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 225 together.

Letterkenny General Hospital is one of a small number of hospitals with significant numbers of people waiting for twelve months or longer for surgical treatment.

I recently indicated my strong support for the newly intensified work by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to increase the referrals from such hospitals to the NTPF. I have asked the NTPF and the HSE to work together to address this issue and to report back to me regularly on their progress.

As the detail of the Deputy's questions relate to the operation of the NTPF, my Department has asked the Chief Executive of the Fund to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the information requested.