Brendan Smith Seeks Assurance on Northern Ireland Healthcare Scheme
Brendan Smith asked whether the Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme will continue beyond the end of 2021 on an administrative basis if primary legislation is not in place. He stressed the scheme's importance for accessing spare hospital capacity in Northern Ireland, particularly for orthopaedics and cataract surgery.
Request for assurance
Brendan Smith requested a categorical assurance that the existing scheme, which replaced the EU cross-border directive, will be extended administratively beyond the end of 2021 if the necessary legislation is not enacted. He noted the scheme typically funds patients to access treatment and surgery in Northern Ireland, often for those on long hospital waiting lists.
Government response and intent
A minister confirmed it is the intention to continue the existing arrangements on an administrative basis if primary legislation cannot be secured in time. The minister also stated that primary legislation is needed to put a new scheme on a statutory footing and said Minister Donnelly would be asked to confirm the position.
Scope and significance of the scheme
The planned healthcare scheme was introduced earlier in the year to replace the EU cross-border directive and has enabled large numbers of patients to obtain treatment and surgery in Northern Ireland paid for by this State. Brendan Smith highlighted orthopaedics and cataracts as areas that particularly rely on access to spare hospital capacity across the border.
Next steps and outstanding questions
Legislative action is required to formalise a successor scheme; meanwhile the stated intention is administrative continuation if legislation is delayed. The transcript records that confirmation from Minister Donnelly was to be sought, leaving formal confirmation outstanding in the record.
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The Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme was put in place earlier this year to replace the EU cross-border directive following Britain's exit from the European Union. The present scheme and its predecessors enabled large numbers of patients to access treatment and or surgery in Northern Ireland paid for by this state. Typically these were patients on long hospital waiting lists. I understand that the present scheme is due to finish at the end of this year. Could antonishly give me categorical assurance that this scheme will continue beyond the end of 2021 on an administrative basis if the necessary legislation is not in place by that time. Access to spare hospital capacity in Northern Ireland is an important part of our healthcare delivery, particularly in orthopaedics and cataracts. Thank you Anaskangorla. Thanks Deputy. I can confirm that that is the intention. We do need to legislate, we need primary legislation to put a new scheme on a statutory footing but it is the intention if we can't get that done in time to continue the existing arrangements on an administrative basis if we can. But I will ask Minister Donnelly to confirm that but that is my understanding of the position. That was wahrscheinlich for me. That was why did appear tough in 이거는 anywhere else than others. I mean, this, you're talking. That it isn't no sort, they were like a mandatory. So you get that liquid as a natural contributor. Dice us that we follow, it's soacağız, you're talking about. It's sowritten, it's absolutely permanent. That is pointed out and it's frozen. The healthcareISAJег's full of people in terms of maintaining the controlarara vows and changing the intelligence part of ourselves.
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