Figures released by the National Treatment Purchase Fund which showed that significant numbers of people in Cork were awaiting surgery may be skewered by the fact that large numbers of patients have been offered surgery through the scheme, but, have rejected or ignored the offer.

The figures which were released recently showed that a total of 1,286 patients were on surgical waiting lists in Cork last year with 551 patients waiting from three to six months for their procedures, 457 patients waiting between six months and a year for surgery and 278 patients waiting longer than one year for surgery.

The report highlighted that surgery waiting lists at Cork University Hospital were significantly longer than at any other Cork hospital and named the facility as one of five hospitals across the country which account for over half of the patients waiting longer than a year for surgery.

However, according to the Cork University Hospital in 2006 and 2007, it offered appointments under the scheme to a total of 8,270 CUH patients from inpatient and outpatient lists and a large proportion of these patients did not take up the offer. A spokesperson for the Health Service Executive said that of the 8,270 patients offered appointments under the scheme, approximately 3,000 of these patients did not respond to the offer of treatment. Just 3,756 (45 per cent) accepted offers and were subsequently referred for treatment.

The spokesperson said that management from CUH met with representatives from the NTPF in January and agreed targets for 2008. "The agreed specialities were Ophthalmology, Urology, Orthopaedics, Plastic Surgery and Vascular Surgery. However, an NTPP provider hospital is no longer in a position to undertake Orthopaedic procedures for CUH and this does impact on our targets in this speciality," she said.

According to the HSE , there are currently 265 patients on CUH's inpatient and day case lists over 12 months. The spokesperson said however, this figure must be discounted in respect of patients who require complex treatment which can only be provided in a tertiary (multi speciality) centre, those who have not responded, and those who have responded and indicated that they wish to remain on CUH's list.

Anyone who has been waiting for more than three months for an operation on an in-patient public hospital waiting list may be eligible for treatment. Patients, their families or GPs can call the NTPF directly on 1890 720 820.

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