Public patients from Clare and Limerick awaiting endoscopies are being sent to the Bon Secours in Tralee for scopes to clear waiting lists.
That’s according to Deputy Government Chief Whip, Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin.
Patients at UHK waiting for endoscopies could also be treated at the Bon Secours Hospital under the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).
Deputy Griffin is questioning why UHK hasn’t taken up this offer to help clear their waiting lists.
He says public patients at UHK should be able to benefit from this offer to receive treatment sooner.
The South/South West Hospital Group confirmed that University Hospital Kerry has not taken up the offer to have patients seen under the NTPF.
Availing of this offer would help clear gastrointestinal endoscopy waiting lists at UHK; 441 patients have been waiting more than 13 weeks for this treatment, as of mid-April.
The South/South West Hospital says there are no urgent cases awaiting endoscopies at UHK, and those waiting over 13 weeks could be classed as routine waiters.
The long waiting lists were attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fine Gael TD Brendan Griffin was told UHK have superior equipment and a higher level of accreditation for these procedures.
The Fine Gael TD doesn’t accept this, given that public patients from Clare and Limerick awaiting endoscopies are being sent to the Bon Secours in Tralee for scopes to clear waiting lists.
Deputy Brendan Griffin says UHK should allow patients travel across town to avail of these procedures sooner:
