Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 365: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the operation of the National Treatment Purchase Fund; the recourse persons have who are on a public waiting list in excess of three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16267/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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announced the establishment of the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) earlier this month. The SDU is a key part of the Government's plans to radically reform the health system in Ireland, with the ultimate goal of introducing a system of Universal Health Insurance (UHI).

The SDU will work to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system, and by streamlining waiting lists, including referrals from GPs. The SDU will work closely with the HSE, building on initiatives already underway. These include the clinical programmes developed by the HSE's National Directorate for Clinical Strategy and Programmes.

The SDU's priorities will encompass:

· Emergency Departments – waiting times for admission have been unacceptably high in a number of hospitals, often breaching the current 6-hour maximum waiting time target

· In-patient waiting times – the trend has been upwards recently, despite the work of the NTPF

· Out-patient waiting times – the time from GP referral to an appointment with a consultant is unacceptably long in many specialties

· Access to diagnostics – this forms an essential part of the patient journey for all of the areas of access above

The SDU will be a crucial "agent for change" allowing for a transformation in the operation of structures across the system. Its success will allow for an alteration in the current role of the NTPF. Its resources will be re-focused to align closely with the work of the SDU, and crucially will allow for a progressive improvement in the performance of the nation's hospitals. The NTPF has welcomed the new initiative and has confirmed it will work proactively with the Unit to achieve the best possible result for patients.

In the interim the NTPF will continue to operate as normal accepting applications from persons who have been waiting for over three months for treatment.