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Inishowen patients' treatment
fears
08.06.11
A GOVERNMENT
announcement last week in relation to the wind-down
of the National Treatment Purchase Fund has created
concern and confusion among patients in Donegal,
according to Donegal North East TD Charlie
McConalogue.
He 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."
Health Minister James Reilly last week stated his
intention to set up a new agency called the Special
Delivery Unit (SDU) to take over the role of
tackling hospital waiting lists, in place of the
NTPF. |
Health Minister James
Reilly last week stated his intention to set up a
new agency called the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) to
take over the role of tackling hospital waiting
lists, in place of the NTPF.
Deputy McConalogue added: “The NTPF 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. |
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Deputy Charlie McConalogue |
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“The many unanswered
questions are adding to the stress and worry for
patients across Donegal 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.” |
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