3,340 patients go private or travel abroad for treatment

MORE than 3,340 patients have received medical treatment abroad or in private hospitals here as the Government tries to clear the backlog of people stuck on public hospital waiting lists.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority and the Western Health Board have made the most use of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). The fund, which has a budget of €31 million this year, buys private treatment in hospitals at home and abroad for patients who have spent more than a year on a waiting list.

Figures for the end of March reveal that 1,653 patients from the ERHA and 593 from the Western Health Board availed of the fund, which started last year. The smallest number of patients treated were from the Mid-Western Health Board area, with just 108.

Almost 300 patients from the North Eastern Health Board received treatment under the NTPF, while 229 patients availed of the scheme in Southern Health Board area, 194 from the South Eastern, 141 from the Midland and 133 from the North Western Health Board region. The speciality headings under which patients have been treated include plastic surgery, varicose veins, cardiology, cardiac surgery, urology, orthopaedics, hernias and cataracts.

The hospitals used by the fund included:

* St Vincent’s Private.

* Blackrock Clinic.

* Mater Private.

* Bon Secours in Cork, Tralee, Galway and Dublin.

* BUPA Liverpool.

* North West Independent Hospital in Northern Ireland.

* Patients who have been waiting more than a year or have a child who has been waiting more than six months can contact the fund on 1890 720 820.