Madam, - Dr Gerry Burke (November 5th) is incorrect to say that treatment through the National Treatment Purchase Fund is inefficient compared with treatment at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital complex in Limerick.
Throughout its work of arranging treatment for the longest waiting public patients, the NTPF has consistently offered value for money to the taxpayer. Dr Burke highlighted the fact that, from a budget of €92 million in 2007, the fund treated 20,000 in-patients. These cover full episodes of care including pre- and post-operative consultations and any follow-p care required. The fund's considerable out-patient and diagnostic work also comes from this budget.
By contrast, Dr Burke's figures show that despite having a budget of more than twice that of the NTPF, the Mid-Western Regional Hospitals treated only 50 per cent more in-patients.
All treatments arranged by the fund are for public patients who have been deemed by the public hospital system to clinically require their operation. Operations are provided across a full range of specialities, including specialities unavailable at Mid-Western hospitals such as cardiac surgery and neuro-surgery and patients include those who have been left for too long on surgical waiting lists in Limerick.
To date, the NTPF has arranged treatment for more than 120,000 public patients. This includes 3,561 of Limerick's longest-waiting public patients, more of which could be accommodated by the NTPF if referred by Limerick. - Yours, etc,