Martin says treatment fund reduces waiting lists

The Minister for Health today claimed the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) had dramatically reduced the numbers on long term waiting lists.

Mr Martin said the fund, which is used to buy private treatment for public patients waiting a considerable period for treatment, had arranged treatment for over 11,000 patients since its inception in March 2002.

However according to the Department of Health's most recent figures over 9,000 patients have been waiting more than a year for treatment on hospital waiting lists.

The primary goal of the Government's National Health Strategy was that no adult would have to wait more than 12 months, or no child more than six months, on a hospital waiting list by the end of 2002.

Speaking today at a launch to mark the 10,000 person to be treated by the National Treatment Purchase Fund, Mr Martin said due to the progress achieved by the National Treatment Purchase Fund the qualifying time has been halved.

He said: "This means that, in most instances, adults waiting for an operation for six months, or 3 months for children will now be facilitated by the Fund."

The fund claims to have eliminated 97 per cent of the 8,300 adults and children who had been waiting between two and eight years for various medical procedures at the time when it was set up.

Minister Martin said he was providing an additional funding of €12 million to the NTPF, bring the total allocation for 2004 to €44 million.

Officials operating the fund said they expected to arrange treatment for over 11,000 patients this year.

"The NTPF can refer patients to private or public hospitals throughout Ireland, Northern Ireland and England. If patients are prepared to exercise choice by travelling to where there is capacity, they can be treated a lot quicker in many instances," Minister Martin said.

"The feedback received from patients indicates that they are extremely satisfied with the quality of care they receive," he said.