The NTPF arranges treatments for patients, provides independently assured waiting list information, develops systems and processes which contribute to health system reform, negotiates prices for nursing home care, and provides expert advice to the Minister for Health.
Access To Treatment
The NTPF arranges hospital treatment for patients on a public hospital waiting list. We do this by sourcing capacity in the public and private healthcare systems. The NTPF may consider you eligible for treatment in a private hospital if:
- You are on a waiting list
- You are ready, fit and available to proceed with treatment
- You are deemed clinically suitable for treatment elsewhere by your public hospital
- You are waiting for a treatment that the NTPF has been able to source
Once all factors are considered, the NTPF notifies the public hospital of external capacity to treat their long waiting patients. The public hospital will then contact those patients that are clinically suitable for treatment in another hospital either by letter or phone.
There is no application process for treatment under the NTPF. Patients should contact their public hospital waiting list office to enquire about being seen in a private hospital through the NTPF.
All offers of outpatient appointments and treatments will come from a patient’s public hospital.
I have received a letter offering an outpatient appointment in a private hospital
The NTPF arranges for the treatment of patients in private hospitals. Where the NTPF sources capacity in a private hospital for outpatients, some patients are contacted by letter offering an outpatient appointment in a named private hospital.
The letter will contain an information sheet outlining details of the offer. At the bottom of the letter, patients are asked if you wish to accept the offer, remain on your local waiting list or be removed from the waiting list.
Patients can respond to an outpatient offer letter by post using the free post return envelope provided.
If you have any specific queries about the offer, please contact your public hospital waiting list office to discuss the offer.
For more information on Access to Private Treatment, please navigate to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The NTPF will sometimes contact patients who have previously rejected the offer of an outpatient appointment in a private hospital to give the patient more information about this offer.
This is an opportunity to ask more questions about the offer and to ensure patients are fully informed of all the offer details.
More information about the outpatient offer letter can be found in the information sheet.
I have received a letter / call / text offering an inpatient, daycase or endoscopy appointment in a private hospital
The NTPF arranges patients’ procedures in private hospitals. Where the NTPF sources capacity in a private hospital for inpatient, daycase and endoscopy procedures, the patient’s public hospital will make contact with the patient outlining details of the offer.
All information about inpatient, daycase and endoscopy treatment offers will come from the patient’s public hospital by letter / phone call / text.
If you have any specific queries about the offer of a procedure in a private hospital, please contact your public hospital waiting list office to discuss the offer.
For more information on Access to Private Treatment, please navigate to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)