Hospital waiting lists still wait

LESS than one-third of children and 36% of adults eligible for the National Treatment Purchase Fund have been treated.

Figures contained in a report in the Irish Medical News, show just 2,495 of 6,805 eligible adults and only 435 of 1,500 eligible children (29%) have been treated to date as part of the €30 million fund.

Uptake has been particularly low in the Mid-West, where just 17% of eligible adults have been treated, compared with 28% in the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) and an average of 50% in other health boards.

A spokesman for the Midwestern Health Board (MHB) said the low uptake was due to the small number of patients waiting more than 12 months for treatment and because many elderly patients were reluctant to go abroad for treatment.

There are 213 patients eligible in the MWHB area compared with to 3,878 in the ERHA area. The Midlands Health Board had the highest take up, referring 80 more patients than targeted.

The fund pays for private treatment at home and abroad for public patients on waiting lists for more than a year, but last year only 25 people were sent to Britain out of a target of 400. A total of 2,930 patients have been treated under the fund since it kicked off last July.

Defending the low take-up the NTPF said targets in Ireland had been met: “A number of hospitals and health boards including St James’ Hospital, Dublin; St John’s Hospital, Limerick; the Midland Health Board and the Southern Health Board have all cleared their ‘Group One’ (all those waiting for more than a year at March 2002) waiting list,” an NTPF spokeswoman said.

However, she agreed that British capacity was essential to clearing the initial target list of 8,305 adults waiting over a year and children over six months during this year.

To increase the number of referrals and to highlight the high level of capacity available in the UK the NTPF has a number of initiatives planned including an advertising campaign due to begin later this month. It is also conducting a series of meetings with healthcare providers throughout the country, encouraging them to increase the number of patients referred under the fund with particular emphasis on the UK.

A number of information evenings have been held around the country to increase public awareness of the Fund.

Health Minister Micheal Martin recently blamed the low referral rate by consultants for the small numbers availing of treatment under the NTPF.

A number of consultants have been critical of sending patients abroad for treatment while wards remain closed here.

They argue that the money would be better spent employing more staff within our own health service.

Eligible patients willing to travel to Britain should to ring 1890 720 820.