Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 1237: To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the options available to patients who need transport to hospitals, particularly in the case of parents with very sick children who cannot afford transport, or those living in rural areas, in view of the fact that transport is only being provided by the Health Service Executive for those who have cancer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18099/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The cost of non-emergency patient transport, in particular for outpatient (OPD) appointments, has been escalating in recent years and non-essential provision has been identified as an area suitable for budgetary control. Accordingly, criteria have been restricted considerably in recent times and, in addition, a uniform approach is being rolled out across the health regions.

In general, patients are expected to make their own way to and from hospital and OPD appointments, using private or scheduled public transport. The exceptions are for dialysis, cancer (radiotherapy and chemotherapy) and post-operative transplant patients. In these cases, the patient's appointment or treatment should be directly related to the condition. Transport may also be provided where, in the clinician's view, the patient would be unable to make the journey without clinical assistance or where the patient must be transported on a stretcher. Where transport has been withdrawn, having previously been provided, this may be a result of the Local Health Office (LHO) beginning to implement the national criteria. If a patient feels there is a genuine case for provision, that is within one of the categories outlined, then they should approach the LHO. If they feel there is a genuine clinical reason for transport to be provided, they should get the clinician to make the case for it. If having approached the LHO they are not satisfied with resolution, they can contact Director of Advocacy, Quality and Patient Safety Directorate, Oak House, Millennium Park, Naas, Co. Kildare. Telephone 1890 424 555. If they remain dissatisfied following the appeal to the Director of Advocacy, they can seek an independent review of the complaint from the Office of the Ombudsman (18 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2, Tel: +353-1-639 5600 LoCall: 1-890-223030(from outside 01 area), ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie