Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2019
381. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will fund treatment for a person (details supplied) in London in view of the fact that the treatment is not available here; if the matter will be expedited in further view of the fact that alternative forms of treatment and other existing treatments here have failed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4114/19]
View answerThe HSE operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme, TAS, for patients entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA Member State under EU Regulation 883/2004, where the treatment is not available in the Irish public hospital system.
The treatment must be a treatment which the patient could legally avail of in the public healthcare system in Ireland if the treatment were available in Ireland.
GPs refer patients to consultants for acute care and it is the treating consultant who, having exhausted all treatment options including tertiary care within the country, refers the patient abroad under the terms of the TAS. The consultant must specify the specific treatment and in making the referral accepts clinical responsibility in relation to the physician and facility abroad where the patient will attend.
Applications to the TAS are processed and a determination given in accordance with the statutory framework prior to a patient travelling to avail of treatment. The statutory framework stipulates the patient must be a public patient and is required to have followed public patient pathways.
Information on the TAS can be accessed on the HSE treatment abroad website and also by phone at: 056 7784551.
