John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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141. To ask the Minister for Health the average cost of individual procedures to date under the NTPF scheme. [47355/17]

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the operation of the NTPF; and the way in which a person can avail of the scheme. [47356/17]

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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143. To ask the Minister for Health the procedures carried out under the NTPF scheme to date in 2017. [47357/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 to 143, inclusive, together.

I acknowledge that waiting times are often unacceptably long and I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families. Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities.

Under waiting list initiatives run by the NTPF, the NTPF liaises directly with hospitals to identify patients to be treated. The patients are then contacted to arrange the details of treatment.

My Department has a robust monitoring framework in place which requires the NTPF to submit regular reports to the Department of Health on the number of patients treated, referring hospitals, treating hospitals, and treatment specialty. This monitoring framework also requires reporting on the type, nature and cost of treatments commissioned, including controls to ensure quality patient treatment, value for money and efficient processes.

The recent Budget announced a total 2018 allocation of €55m to the NTPF to address waiting lists and more than doubles their 2017 total allocation. Next year will see a continued focus towards our longest waiting patients, and overall waiting list numbers. It is estimated that this funding has the potential to provide treatment for 18,000 Inpatient/Daycase patients across a range of specialties and procedures through working with both public and private hospitals. This will be in addition to the HSE’s hospital activity funded under Budget 2018. It is not possible to make specific information on costs in relation to individual private hospitals available due to its commercial sensitivity however, the NTPF provide the Department with regular financial reports regarding the waiting list initiatives.

The NTPF have advised that, as of 3 November 2017, the following procedures have been undertaken through NTPF funding:

NTPF Insourcing in Public Hospitals:

NTPF Outsourcing to Private Hospitals: