Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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453. To ask the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Galway who is in critical need of orthopaedic surgery, who has been on a waiting list for surgery since February 2014, who suffers from chronic continuous pain, and who has no possibility of returning to work prior to surgery, will be able to access treatment in another eurozone country, in terms of European Union (Application of Patients Rights in Cross-Border Healthcare) Regulations 2014; the way applicants can access their entitlements under Statutory Instrument No. 203, as amended by Statutory Instrument No. 65 of 2015; if the person, in this case, requires prior authorisation as per the conditions laid out in section12 of the Statutory Instrument No. 203 of 2014; if so, the application process, both as a general rule, and with specific application to the case in point; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24884/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Health Service Executive operates the EU Directive on Patients' Rights in Cross Border Healthcare in Ireland. Through the National Contact Point (NCP) office the HSE provides information for patients on the Cross-Border Directive on its website - - and also by phone. The principal function of the NCP is to facilitate exchange of information for patients concerning their rights and entitlements relating to receiving healthcare in another Member State, in particular the terms and conditions for reimbursement of cost and the procedures for accessing and determining those entitlements. The NCP is able to inform patients what the cost of their treatments would be in Ireland to allow them make a comparison with the costs they are being quoted for comparable treatment in another Member State.

Prior approval will be required for all hospital care involving overnight accommodation, healthcare that involves treatments presenting a particular risk for the patient or the population, or healthcare which would be provided which could raise serious concerns with regard to the quality or safety of the care. The patient must submit a fully completed application form accompanied by the appropriate referring letter. The application for prior authorisation must be assessed and a determination given prior to the patient availing of the treatment abroad. A decision can be expected between 15 and 20 working days following the receipt of a completed application and any other information/clarification requested.

The NCP also has a responsibility to ensure that all inquirers are informed of the right to healthcare, if any, that they may have through the European legislation on the co-ordination of social security schemes (EU Regulation 883/04) and which may be more beneficial to them.

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.