Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the National Treatment Purchase Fund; if any provision has been made this year for outpatient appointments; if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 with an ongoing condition, who has been told that they will have to wait one year before they can see a consultant, can access this scheme with a view to getting a private appointment; if provision can be made for this person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44544/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The National Treatment Purchase Fund arranges hospital-based treatment for patients who have been waiting longest on surgical, inpatient waiting lists. The Fund also arranges, on a pilot basis, outpatient consultations for people who are waiting longest for first-time appointments with a consultant. This year, the NTPF will provide first-time consultant appointments for over 9,000 of those waiting longest. The scheme only applies in a number of hospitals and the specialties to which it applies vary from year to year, depending on the length of waiting lists. In addition, a person may not self-refer for an outpatient appointment - applications are made by the hospitals concerned.

The NTPF has confirmed that there have been over 2,000 ENT referrals from 12 public hospitals and these patients are currently being seen and treated. The NTPF also advises that the Outpatient Department (OPD) initiative has completed referrals for 2010 at this stage. In relation to OPD activity in 2011, this will be agreed in the context of the budgetary process.

The scheduling of patients for hospital treatment is a matter for the consultant concerned in each case and is determined on the basis of clinical need. Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the particular patient's condition has worsened and warrants an earlier appointment, the GP would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant involved.