Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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358. To ask the Minister for Health the reason there is no upright or stand-up MRI machines; when funding will be provided for this equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47764/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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359. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is no facility for persons who require an upright MRI and that persons must travel to England for same at a cost of €1,600; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this is not covered under the EU cross-border directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47765/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the provision of specific services in the acute hospital setting are an operational matter for the HSE I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on the issue of lack of upright MRI facilities.

In relation to accessing upright MRI facilities it is noted that patients often access services in other EU/EEA member states under different routes.

The Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) allows public patients to be referred to another EU/EEA country for treatment that is not available in Ireland, subject to qualifying criteria. A patient's Irish based consultant is responsible for referring the patient abroad under the terms of the TAS, after having exhausted all treatment options including tertiary care within Ireland.  Applications to the TAS are processed and a determination given in accordance with the statutory framework prior to a patient travelling to avail of treatment. The statutory framework stipulates the patient must be a public patient and is required to have followed public patient pathways.  Also, the treatment must be a proven treatment and not experimental/trial and it must be provided in the public health service of the country which the patient is being referred to. 

In relation to the Cross Border Directive (CBD), patients in Ireland can seek to be referred to another EU/EEA country for medical treatment that is available in the public health service in Ireland. The patient my access the overseas service in either the public or private health sector of the country they choose to receive the service in.  The patient pays for the treatment and claims reimbursement from the HSE at the cost of that treatment in Ireland or the cost of it abroad, whichever is the lesser. 

Further information on the TAS may be obtained from the HSE website, by phone at  056 77845548 or by writing to the TAS Office,St. Canice’s Hospital Complex, Dublin Road, Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny. The contact details for the CBD are: National Contact Point: HSE Cross Border Directive, St Canice's Hospital, Dublin Road, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 778 4547 or 056 778 4546 or 056 778 4556. email: crossborderdirective@hse.ie.