§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his assessment of the reasons for patients from the Irish Republic seeking treatment in the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[holding answer 28 July 1989]: Under the relevant EC regulations residents of the Republic of Ireland may seek immediately necessary treatment under the NHS on the same basis as residents of the United Kingdom and may be referred by the Irish health authorities for treatment for specific conditions. Information on the reasons for patients seeking treatment is not available centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.