NATIONAL TREATMENT PURCHASE FUND OFFERS UK TREATMENT DIRECTLY TO PATIENTS

-Over 3,000 patients treated but UK capacity not fully utilised-

12th March, 2003: The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) today launched an advertising campaign for the general public and GPs aimed at getting more people off long term waiting lists and referred to the UK for treatment. While the Fund has treated over 3,000 patients since it started in July 2002 and is meeting all targets within Ireland, capacity within the UK has not been fully utilised. In a further measure to increase UK referrals the NTPF has put in place procedures whereby patients can directly contact its Lo Call number if they wish to be treated in the UK and whereby GPs can directly refer patients to consultants in UK hospitals. All necessary travel arrangements and medical care procedures have been put in place to facilitate this.

In order to clear the initial Group One list of 8,305 adults waiting over a year and children over six months it is essential to fully utilise the capacity in the UK as well as capacity sourced in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Patients willing to travel to the UK will be treated, in most cases, in a matter of weeks. Procedures such as varicose veins, hernias, cataracts, plastic surgery, urology, ophthalmology and certain orthopaedic operations can be carried out under the Fund.

“We want to make people throughout Ireland aware of this free initiative and encourage those who are eligible to contact us for treatment. The Fund has helped a large number of patients waiting an unacceptable length of time to receive treatment and we are anxious to sustain the throughput achieved to date. I can’t emphasise enough the importance of using the capacity in the UK. Beds are available there and if we are to achieve our targets for reducing the long term waiting lists it is essential that we use them. Patients have indicated a willingness to be treated in the UK and feedback from those who have been treated there has been very positive”, said NTPF Director Maureen Lynott.

Commenting on his recent hernia operation carried out in the UK under the Fund, Mr Stephen Moloney from Artane said, “The NTPF organised everything from travel arrangements to meals for my wife and I to travel to the UK for my treatment. I couldn’t believe how hassle free the trip and treatment was. If my wife hadn’t picked up the phone and called the Lo Call number I would probably still be waiting for treatment. It is a great initiative and the operation has made a considerable difference to my quality of life”.

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 in place;

• An advertising campaign specifically designed to highlight capacity for treatment in the four UK hospitals.
  
  
• The patient Lo Call number has been widely publicised and patients willing to travel to the UK for treatment are encouraged to ring 1890 720 820.
  
  
• GPs can refer patients who wish to receive treatment in the UK to one of four UK hospitals - two BUPA hospitals located in Liverpool and Manchester and two BMI hospitals located in Basingstoke and close to Heathrow.
  
  
• The NTPF is conducting a series of meetings with healthcare providers throughout the country to encourage them to increase the number of patients referred under the fund with particular emphasis on the UK.
  

The NTPF received €31 million in funding for 2003 and has the capacity to treat 600 patients a month in 2003, 400 in hospitals in Ireland and 200 in four UK hospitals

Patients are encouraged to ring the Lo Call number 1890 720 820 to see if they are eligible for treatment.

ENDS

Note to Editors
The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) is one of the waiting list initiatives outlined in the Health Strategy and Programme for Government.
The Fund is focused on treating the 6,805 adults and 1,500 children who at March, 2002 had been waiting over a year and six months respectively for surgical treatment. The fund organises for their treatment to take place in a private hospital here, in the North or the UK. Treatment is entirely free and all necessary travelling costs will be met by the Fund.