Scheme to clear hospital waiting lists funds 5.500 operations

A GOVERNMENT initiative to clear the backlog of patients stuck on public hospital waiting lists is on target to clear those waiting more than 12 months for treatment this year.

Almost 5,500 patients have been treated under the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) since it became the main plank of the National Health Strategy in April last year. All treatments are free and travel expenses are also covered under the fund.

Nine out of 10 patients treated in the scheme described the treatment as good to excellent. Just over half were treated in two to four weeks of being contacted by the NTPF and three- quarters were treated in two months.