Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The HSE operates a treatment abroad scheme, TAS, for persons entitled to treatment in another EU/EEA member state, or Switzerland, under EU Regulation 883/04 and Implementing Regulation 987/09 in accordance with Department of Health guidelines. Within these governing EU regulations and the Department of Health's guidelines, the TAS provides for the cost of approved treatments in another EU/EEA member state, or Switzerland, through the issue of form E112 (IE).

A decision is made on each application in accordance with this legislation and guidelines, and on the basis of a review by clinical experts. The cost of the treatment is not a deciding factor when approving an application. The treatment must not be available within the State or not available within a time normally necessary for obtaining it. The TAS allows for an Irish-based consultant to refer a patient that is normally resident in Ireland for treatment in another EU-EEA member state or Switzerland, where the treatment in question meets certain criteria.

The application to refer a patient abroad must be assessed and a determination given prior to the patient availing of the treatment abroad. Valid applications will be processed within 15 to 20 working days and a decision will be issued via letter. Appointments should not be scheduled prior to a decision being reached on an application. Appointments that are made prior to a decision will have no bearing on the review process or its expedition.

Following clinical assessment, the Irish-based referring hospital consultant must provide details of the patient's condition, the specific treatment being applied for and the provider of the treatment abroad. Under the regulations, there are no provisions obliging the State to make payments towards accommodation and baggage costs of people availing of treatment under the TAS. Nevertheless, in exceptional circumstances and despite budgetary pressures generally on the budget of the Health Service Executive, some discretionary assistance is made available on a case by case basis.

The treatment abroad scheme does not include a provision for travel and or subsistence expenses for patients or their relatives travelling abroad to avail of approved treatments. However, the HSE and specifically the TAS may provide assistance towards reasonable, economic air or sea travel fares for patients and a travelling companion where appropriate.

In an effort to standardise and provide equity of access and entitlements to approved applicants for transport costs associated with travelling outside the State for treatment, this policy is executed as national policy. The HSE treatment abroad scheme will implement this policy on travel expenses for such patients and in certain circumstances an accompanying family member or another travelling companion, as follows: the full cost of air or sea transport from Ireland to the relevant EU-EEA country, or Switzerland, will be provided for the patient availing of approved TAS medical treatment, subject to available funding; where the patient is under the age of 18, the full air or sea transport costs of one accompanying adult will also be provided, subject to available funding; in the circumstances that a patient over the age of 18 requires accompaniment on the basis of medical health or incapacitation, consideration can be given for the funding of such an escort's sea or air transport costs where the referring consultant certifies such a need, subject to available funding.

Once the patient has availed of an approved treatment abroad, the care of the patient reverts immediately to the referring Irish consultant. I hope this clarifies the issues for the Deputy.

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