Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 4 May 1994

Vol. 442 No. 3

Written Answers. - Spinal Surgery Costs.

John O'Leary

Ceist:

186 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for Health the reason his Department or the Southern Health Board cannot make a refund of all or part of the costs and expenses incurred by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in respect of spinal surgery in England, in view of the fact that this surgery could not be carried out with the same guarantee of success in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin):

The referral of patients abroad for treatment is a matter for the relevant health board, in this case the Southern Health Board.

The Deputy will be aware that there are European Union Regulations governing the referral of patients for health services in other member countries. Under the referral of patients abroad scheme, a person may be authorised to go to another member state and obtain treatment which is considered necessary and which is not available in Ireland. The health board must assess an application for referral before the patient goes abroad, except in cases of extreme urgency. Medical evidence must be provided by a hospital consultant certifying among other things, that the treatment is not available in Ireland. I understand from the Southern Health Board that the person in question had been made aware of the terms of the referral abroad scheme two months prior to travelling for surgery.

In exceptional circumstances the board may consider a case post-treatment if it was deemed to be an emergency. It is open to the person in this case to submit a completed application form to the board for consideration.