A health lobby group has claimed "many thousands" of patients may have been denied access to treatment because they have not been referred to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) by consultants and hospitals.
The Irish Patients' Association today welcomed the news that over 60,000 patients will have been treated under the NTPF by the end of 2006.
Stephen McMahon, Irish Patients' Association
However, the body said it had asked the NTPF how many patients have been denied access to treatment because they have not been referred by some consultants and hospitals such as Beaumont Hospital, Sligo General Hospital and Cork University Hospital.
"In the absence of hard data we believe that many thousands of patients have been so affected," the association said.
"Once again we advise the public that if they know anyone who has been waiting for more than three months to contact the National Treatment Purchase Fund personally on 1890 720820."
A lobby group in Cork has called for an inquiry into the low level of referrals to the NTPF by Cork University Hospital.
Last year, CUH referred just 253 patients to the fund, which was set up four years ago to tackle lengthy surgical waiting lists. It was claimed today that there are some 3,000 patients on the waiting list for orthopaedic surgery at CUH.
Labour Party councillor Ciarán Lynch, who is chair of the South Regional Health Forum, said he had been informed a number of meetings have taken place between the CUH and the NTPF with the intention to generate more referrals to the fund.
"These meetings have taken place both last year and this year, yet no measurable breakthrough has been achieved," he said.
"In 2005 CUH referred 250 patients to the fund in comparison to the Galway Hospital which sent 2,000. The Mater Hospital, in Dublin alone sent 1,800. In the South East region, in Waterford, 2,000 patients were referred for treatment."
Mr Lynch said there were 800 public patients in the CUH system who could immediately be referred to the NTPF. This included 146 children needing treatment such as plastic surgery and corrective eye surgery.
"Examining these figures show that the Cork region is performing at less than 25 per cent of capacity to other areas when it comes to availing of the fund," he added.
"These figures clearly show there is a bottleneck situation in the Cork region and that those accountable for this must now be brought to task. I am calling for an inquiry to take place to identify those who are causing this backlog which is having such detrimental consequences to the lives of patients."