A campaign gets under way throughout the State today to encourage patients to travel to British hospitals for essential medical treatment. The campaign is being launched by the National Treatment Purchase Fund set up by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin.
About 200 patients are flown to British hospitals each month for private treatment as part of the Government's plans to eliminate waiting lists. The monthly cost is an estimated €700,000.
A spokeswoman for the Minister said yesterday that referrals for this kind of treatment were not as quick as they should be.
The campaign will involve the use of local radio and newspapers and community meetings addressed by officials.