Vol. 553 No. 5
318 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the health board areas in which E112 forms have been used to enable women to have abortions in Britain; the number of occasions on which this has occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14722/02]
Where an individual requires specific treatment which is necessary and which is not available in Ireland, a health board may authorise the provision of treatment in another EU member state by use of the E112 form. Before any patient is referred abroad for treatment a health board ensures that the following procedures are adhered to: the application to refer a patient abroad must be assessed before the patient goes abroad except in cases of extreme urgency and medical evidence must be provided by a hospital consultant giving details of the condition from which the patient suffers and of the type of treatment envisaged.
As it is a matter for the local health board to determine if such treatment is to be authorised, I have asked the health board chief executive officers to provide me with the information requested and I will then revert to you.
