Written answers

Tuesday, 9 November 2021

Department of Health

National Treatment Purchase Fund

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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582. To ask the Minister for Health if children awaiting psychology services can be supported to attend private services with support from the national treatment purchase fund; if not, if he will put a system in place to allow those waiting in excess of three months to attend private services that are covered by the HSE in order to avoid delays for those who cannot pay from being left behind, many of whom have waited in excess of one year for services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54130/21]

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, to offer and provide  funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an acute hospital 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.

As psychological services are not Inpatient/Daycase or Outpatient waiting lists within an Acute hospital setting, they do not meet current NTPF criteria.

Any change in the function of the NTPF to include the provision for treatment for patients outside of the acute hospital setting would require primary legislation. Therefore, the operational and legislative implications of this need to be considered.

However, the overarching goal is to reduce these waiting lists so that children and adults can secure timely assessments. The Deputy will be aware that in August of this year I announced €4 million in funding for local initiatives to reduce waiting lists for children and young people under 18 waiting more than 12 months to access primary care psychology. These initiatives are progressing, including through the recruitment of new staff and increased hours of service. I continue to closely monitor this initiative, in conjunction with the HSE

The total allocation for mental health services in 2022 is €1.149 billion. This is another record budget for mental health. It delivers an additional €47 million for next year and comprises €24 million for new developments, €13 million is for existing levels of service and €10 million in once off funding for mental health initiatives in response to Covid.

The €24 million is being prioritised for the continued development of mental health services, including out of hours supports, CAMHS telehubs and CAMHS community teams.

Additionally, supports continue to be available to children and young people, which include a wide range of community and voluntary supports including Jigsaw, MyMind, Turn2Me and SpunOut.

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