Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of patients sent outside the jurisdiction for treatment in the past five years; the reason such treatment was not acceptable here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4422/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes services for certain patients who are, by arrangement, sent outside the jurisdiction for treatment. Accordingly, my Department has requested the interim chief executive officer of the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested.

The national treatment purchase fund arranges treatment for patients who have been waiting longest for admission to hospital. Where it is not possible to treat patients within a reasonable period in Ireland arrangements have been made to refer certain patients for treatment abroad, having regard to quality, availability and cost. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the NTPF to reply to the Deputy directly on the number of patients who have had their treatment arranged outside the State under the auspices of the fund.