Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 47: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the length of time a person will be on a waiting list before they can apply for the National Treatment Purchase Fund; if this waiting time includes the period of time when they are waiting to be seen by a consultant; her plans to reduce this waiting time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39584/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Subject to the resources available to it, the National Treatment Purchase Fund may arrange treatment or diagnostic procedures, as appropriate, for patients who have been on a hospital's surgical, endoscopy or MRI waiting list for more than three months. It is open to a person on such a list or anyone acting on their behalf to contact the Fund directly in relation to their case. The Funds works with hospitals to ensure that, as a general rule, the focus is on facilitating those patents who have been waiting longest.

The HSE's National Service Plan 2010 commits the Executive to the development of more efficient processes where hospital inpatient activity is concerned, including increasing the proportion of treatment provided on a day basis, higher rates of day-of-surgery admission and reduction of overall average length of stay. The Plan also identifies a number of measures being taken to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of outpatient services and to increase the proportion of new attendees within the overall numbers attending. These include better management of appointments and more appropriate discharge of patients back to primary care services, where indicated. The Plan also includes a performance target for non-attendance by patients of not more than 10%, for both new and return attendees.

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 48: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) currently waiting for a procedure; when they will see a consultant; when they can apply for the National Treatment Purchase Fund; when the procedure will be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39585/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. Subject to the resources available to it, the National Treatment Purchase Fund may arrange treatment for patients who have been on a surgical waiting list for more than three months. It is open to the person in question or anyone acting on their behalf to contact the Fund directly in relation to their case.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 49: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will receive treatment under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39606/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The NTPF has indicated that this patient will be contacted shortly in relation to an offer of treatment.