The South/South West Hospital Group has confirmed that University Hospital Kerry has not taken up an offer to have patients seen under the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
The group confirmed to TD Brendan Griffin that under the NTPF, 100 patients at UHK awaiting endoscopies, could be treated at the Bon Secours Hospital, Tralee.
This was to help clear gastrointestinal endoscopy waiting lists at University Hospital Kerry.
441 patients have been waiting more than 13 weeks for the treatment.
The Interim Group Chief Operations Officer at the South/South West Hospital Group wrote to Deputy Griffin and stated UHK had been advised by the NTPF of the availability of 100 endoscopy slots which had been assigned to the Bon Secours Hospital.
Tess O'Donovan told Brendan Griffin that these slots would provide scopes only to UHK patients and would help in clearing the GI endoscopy waiting list.
Ms O'Donovan said that following consideration of this NTPF offer, consultant surgeons and the management team at UHK were satisfied with their own plan to clear the waiting list by the end of June, including treating additional patients at weekends and on Fridays.
Ms O'Donovan said there were no urgent cases awaiting endoscopies at UHK, and that the 441 patients who'd been waiting over 13 weeks could be classed as routine waiters.
The delays had been due to the pandemic.
Ms O'Donovan said in relation to endoscopy services, UHK had returned to 100% capacity since March 22nd.
Brendan Griffin has condemned the decision to reject the NTPF's offer. He says it's in patients' best interests to avail of the assistance offered instead of some of them having to wait up to a further 10 weeks for an endoscopy.
