Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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571. To ask the Minister for Health if he will take steps in relation to the case of a person (details supplied) in which a follow-up consultation is required with their surgeon under the treatment abroad scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25664/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.   

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, given the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems, my Department contacted the HSE regarding the current status of the patient’s application under the Treatment Abroad  Scheme (TAS). The disruption to service is on-going, however the HSE have confirmed that the latest information they have available is that an incomplete application was received from the patient.  This matter has been communicated to the patient by the HSE TAS office and a completed application is awaited.

Patients are advised to contact the HSE TAS office directly with queries on individual applications.  The TAS office may be contacted by phone on 056 778 4900 / 056 778 4908; by email at treatmentabroad.scheme@hse.ie or in writing at Health Service Executive, Seville Lodge, Callan Road, Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny. Further information is also available on the TAS website.