22,000 to avail of treatment purchase fund this year

SOME 22,000 public patients who have been on waiting lists for more than three months will be treated either at home or abroad this year, according to National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) bosses.

Their budget has increased from €64 million last year to €78m this year, allowing them to pay for the treatment of 15% more patients on waiting lists.

And there are plans to increase the number of hospitals offering care under the fund from April, increasing the numbers of hospitals registered from seven to 18.