Vol. 518 No. 3
174 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children flown out of the country for medical treatment in the past 12 months; the places in which they received treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11574/00]
The information requested by the Deputy is not routinely collected by my Department. I have, therefore, asked the regional chief executive officer of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the chief executive officers of the health boards to forward this information directly to the Deputy.
The Deputy may wish to note that health boards may refer patients for treatment abroad where certain criteria have been met. These criteria are as follows: the treatment concerned is not available in this country; there is an urgent medical necessity for the treatment; there is a reasonable medical prognosis; the treatment is regarded as a proven form of medical treatment and is recommended by the patient's consultant and the treatment is to be carried out in a recognised hospital or other institution, and is under the control of a registered medical practitioner.
