John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

138. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which patients are selected for referral via the NTPF to private hospitals for treatment with specific reference to a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4715/19]

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

The role of the NTPF is to authorise public hospitals to offer outsourced treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an inpatient/day case waiting list for surgery, having been referred on to such a list following clinical assessment by a consultant/specialist at an outpatient clinic. NTPF authorisations are made in respect of the longest waiting patients first.

The 2019 Scheduled Care Access Plan is being finalised and will ensure an appropriate balance between high volume activities and offering treatment to complex long waiting patients. The NTPF will do this by inviting public hospitals to seek solutions for very long waiters either in the private sector or through insourcing.