Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

123. To ask the Minister for Health when the HSE will start releasing money for privately funded operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31022/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) previously arranged for the provision of hospital treatment to classes of persons determined by the Minister. Since 2011 this function has been suspended.

The NTPF supports the management of in-patient, day-case and outpatient waiting lists, by working with the HSE to assist hospitals in developing local demand and capacity planning and providing technical guidance materials to ensure the highest standard of data quality and practice. The expertise amassed by the NTPF in respect of waiting lists has proven invaluable in assisting the HSE to administer previous waiting list initiatives and in carrying out smaller-scale targeted initiatives in areas such as endoscopy.

The Programme for Partnership Governmentemphasises the need for sustained commitment to improving waiting times for patients, with a particular focus on those patients waiting longest. At my request, in August, the HSE developed an action plan to reduce, by year end, the number of patients currently waiting 18 months or more for an inpatient / daycase procedure. Also within current resources, the NTPF is currently implementing an Endoscopy Initiative which aims to ensure that, by year end, no patient will be waiting 12 months or more for an endoscopy procedure.

In line with the Government priority, the Budget 2017 provides for the treatment of our longest-waiting patients. Funding of €20m is being allocated to the NTPF, rising to €55m in 2018. Planning of this initiative is at an advanced stage by the NTPF, my Department and the HSE.