 NTPF announcement creates confusion and concern among Monaghan patientsA Government announcement last week in relation to the wind down of the National Treatment Purchase Fund has created concern and confusion among patients in Monaghan, according to Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith. Deputy Smith was speaking after the Minister for Health James Reilly announced that he is setting up a new agency called the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) to take over the role of tackling hospital waiting lists, in place of the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). Deputy Smith said, “There is total confusion about what this announcement actually means for patients over the coming weeks and months. Minister Reilly seems to be creating a new agency to do exactly what the National Treatment Purchase Fund already does. However, he hasn’t said how long it will take to set up this new unit, how it will be funded and what it means for patients who are currently on hospital waiting lists. “The National Treatment Purchase Fund has been successful in cutting waiting lists for 200,000 patients across the country. I very much welcome any efforts to build on this work and further reduce waiting lists. However I am most concerned that patients will be faced with further delays while this SDU is being set up. How long will it take before the unit starts having an impact on waiting lists? Will patients be faced with increased waiting lists in the meantime? Will the NTPF be wound down next month before the new unit is fully up and running? “The many unanswered questions are adding to the stress and worry for patients in Monaghan and Cavan who are already concerned about how long they will have to wait until they get the treatment they need. I am calling on the Minister to clearly explain how the switch over of responsibilities from the NTPF to the new unit will affect them. This change in procedure must be about real results for patients, and cannot lead to more complications and bureaucracy in our health service.” |
Tuesday, 07 June 2011 15:18