asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the controlling mechanism which he proposes to introduce to discourage the unwarranted use of external acute hospital services in other health board areas where there are adequate services available within the health board area of the patient in question; if these provisions will take account of the fact that some patients may be living closer to facilities in other health board areas than those available in their own area; and if the proposed disincentive or charge will have any adverse effect on patients from the Meath area becoming patients in hospitals in the Eastern Health Board region.
Written Answers. - Acute Hospital Services.
204.
There is a need to rationalise the existing practice whereby in-patient services which are provided by health boards for particular catchment areas are not availed of by persons who opt instead to use similar services outside their functional area. The controlling mechanism which I propose will involve a health board approving non-emergency external referrals for services which may be availed of by persons without attracting a special charge. Patient interest, the range of services provided by a board within its functional area and the geographic location of services and patients are important factors which will be taken into account by boards.