Thousands of patients across Carlow and Kilkenny have now benefited from speedier treatment through the work of the National Treatment purchase fund (NTPF ).
A total of 5,018 patients across the two counties have now finally received the treatments they have been waiting for.
The procedures arranged, cover a wide range of specialties, including the treatment of cataracts, knee and hip replacements, MRI scans, removal of tonsils, heart surgery, spinal operations, hernia repairs and varicose vein removal.
The fund was established in 2002 as part of the Government's Health Strategy and programme for Government. The NTPF arranges treatment for public patients who have been waiting for surgery for extended periods of time. Treatments are free of charge, and procedures are carried out in private hospitals in Ireland. Public patients should be made aware that the NTPF is there to reduce the amount of time they need to wait for their surgery.
The NTPF chief executive, Pat O' Byrne said '' The fund has made considerable progress in reducing the waiting times of public patients awaiting surgery in Carlow and Kilkenny. Patients have embraced the opportunity of faster treatment and we have now arranged treatment for 120,000 of the longest waiting patients. Many of these patients had been waiting years for treatment, and could still be waiting, if the option of the fund was not available.''
The NTPF would like all public patients awaiting surgery to know that irrespective of which county you live in, the NTPF is there to help those patients who are waiting long periods for surgery.
Patients can contact the National Treatment Purchase Fund through its lo-call number 1890 720 820. They can also inform the hospital where they are waiting that they wish to be referred under the NTPF scheme.
