Local patients last to be sent to England for brain treatment

No patients with brain injuries were transferred last year, whilst just one was transferred from the Northern Trust in 2009/10.

Mr Poots stated: “I have been informed by the Health and Social Care Board that during 2009/10, there was one patient transferred to Great Britain under the extra-contractual referral arrangements for treatment for brain injury.

“This patient was from the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. A further two patients were transferred from the Western Health and Social Care Trust during 2010/11 and no patients were transferred by any Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland during 2011/12.”

Patients can be transferred if their clinical condition represents an unusual or rare circumstance and one likely to occur very infrequently.

They can also be transferred of the treatment requested is a new or developing treatment not normally commissioned or funded by the HSCB or if the treatment is commissioned or funded in NI in certain circumstances but not applicable to the circumstances.

Patients may also be transferred if for a variety of reasons, the treatment may not be commissioned or funded in Northern Ireland, for example because national guidance indicates that it is not recommended.