Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he will give consideration to a request from persons (details supplied) in Dublin 12 to have their child transferred for treatment to a UK facility expert in the treatment of anorexia. [13979/04]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Where an individual requires specific treatment which is necessary and which cannot be provided in Ireland, a health board may refer the person to another member state for treatment. Under EU regulations, the board issues form E112 to the person being referred to establish his or her entitlement to such treatment and to imply a commitment by the health board to pay the full cost of the treatment. My Department has issued guidelines which set down the criteria to be used by health boards when assessing applications for approval of forms E112, as follows. The application to refer a patient abroad must be assessed before the patient goes abroad except in cases of extreme urgency; medical evidence must be provided by a hospital consultant giving details of the condition from which the patient suffers and of the type of treatment envisaged. It must be certified by the consultant that 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; the treatment abroad is in a recognised hospital or other institution and is under the control of a registered medical practitioner.