Vol. 415 No. 4
168 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether her attention has been drawn to the treatment available in the Peto Institute in Hungary that has proved very successful for some children with a disability; whether persons seeking treatment there can obtain assistance with the treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware that the Peto Institute in Budapest has developed a regime called conductive education for children with motor disorders like cerebral palsy. This system has been examined in detail by professional staff from organisations in this country who are providing services for children with disabilities and some of them have been to Hungary to study the institute's methods. The concensus of professional opinion here is that while conductive education has some helpful approaches to offer certain children it has not been established that, in the longer term, it is more effective than the education and therapy services available in this country.
Assistance for referral of patients abroad is given where appropriate treatment is not available in this country. The policy in relation to conductive education is to incorporate the beneficial aspects of it into existing programmes rather than to divert resources to the referral of children to Budapest.
