Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 550: To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients referred under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; the number treated within this jurisdiction; the number treated outside this jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30898/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The total number of surgical procedures carried out under the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to date is 163,315. The NTPF does not normally send patients for treatment outside Ireland. The Fund has, where particular circumstances warranted it, sent a small number of patients abroad for treatment. For example, the Fund has arranged for patients living in border counties to be treated in private facilities in Northern Ireland. Of the 163,315 total surgical procedures carried out over 95% were treated in Ireland, 0.5% were treated in England (2002 - 2008), 0.02% treated in USA (2004 - 2006), 3.9% were treated in Northern Ireland (2002 to date Sept 2011). The number of surgical procedures undertaken by the NTPF, broken down by year, is set out in the table below.

The Government is embarking on a major reform programme of the health system. The aim of this reform is to deliver a single-tier health service, supported by universal health insurance, which will ensure equal access to care based on need, not income. A key immediate priority was the establishment in June of the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), to drive down waiting times for patients and a lot of work has already been undertaken in that regard. The resources of the NTPF will be refocused to align with the work of the SDU, and crucially, will allow for a progressive improvement in the performance of the acute hospital system.