Two patients a day seek treatment in EU over failings in our health system

Two people have to leave Ireland for medical treatment in other EU countries every day because of chronic problems in our health service.

The situation, which is already double the total figure last year, was outlined by an opposition party last night after it obtained official Department of Health documents detailing the scale of foreign care.

Figures obtained by Sinn Féin health spokeswoman Louise O’Reilly show that, between January 1 and June 30 this year, 371 people were transferred out of the Irish health service to be treated abroad under EU cross-border schemes.