Plan to cut waiting time to see specialists

PLANS to have the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) involved in a new scheme to remedy a situation where public patients are having to wait up to seven years to see a specialist have been welcomed by the Irish Patients Association.

Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney has asked the NTPF to cut waiting times for specialists by paying for private appointments for public patients.

Up to 5,000 patients in 10 centres around the country will be involved in a pilot project that will start in the middle of next month.