Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health if lyme disease sufferers are eligible for treatment under the National Treatment Purchase Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41731/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Patients with lyme disease are not eligible for treatment under the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). In July 2011, I announced changes to the remit of the NTPF - namely that it would move from working to largely outsource treatments for those waiting longest to working with hospitals in a performance improvement capacity to improve access to scheduled care. The NTPF has been aligned with the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) and is now targeting waiting lists strategically and incentivising hospitals to manage their waiting times proactively. The NTPF capability is a core part of the SDU's performance improvement role in holding public hospitals to account.