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.

NTPF director Maureen Lynott said the fund had the capacity each month to allow 500 patients to be treated in hospitals throughout Ireland and 200 patients in four private hospitals in England. While more than 100 patients have been treated in England, their capacity to treat patients has yet to be fully utilised under the scheme.

Ms Lynott said it was possible to clear the 8,305 patients (6,805 adults and 1,500 children) identified in March 2002 as those waiting longest by October simply by fully maximising the capacity available in English hospitals. The fund has been targeting adults waiting more than 12 months and children waiting more than six months for treatment.

Ms Lynott said some patients had been waiting between two and eight years for routine treatment procedures that would dramatically improve their quality of life.

Almost 900 children have been treated under the scheme and a few hundred are still awaiting treatment, mostly in the Dublin area.

Ms Lynott said, generally, hospitals outside Dublin do not have children waiting over six months once they have seen a consultant and those waiting between three and six months were now being referred.

“We have capacity for children and we are very actively referring children for treatment,” she said. Ms Lynott explained they tried to avoid referring children to English hospitals.

When those waiting longest are treated the NTPF will start working with hospitals and heath boards on arranging treatment for their patients waiting between six and 24 months.

“Eventually, no adult or child will be waiting more than three months for an operation,” said Ms Lynott. The NTPF has been mainly purchasing procedures for treating cataracts, varicose veins, hernias, gall bladders, prostates, tonsils, adenoids, grommets, plastic surgery, cardiac surgery and hip and knee replacement operations.

Labour Party deputy leader Liz McManus said while she was glad 5,000 people were availing of the fund, there were still almost 30,000 people on waiting lists.