The Health Service Executive has spent nearly €33 million over the past three years sending a small number of patients abroad for psychiatric treatment, reports Breaking News.
According to figures released under FOI, the average annual cost per patient has been about €1.26 million, reports Breaking News.
Spending has increased significantly in recent years, rising from €4.4 million in 2022 to €12.3 million in 2023.
A further €10.6 million was spent in 2024, followed by €9.98 million last year, reports Breaking News.
Over the past 11 years, total payments for specialised mental health treatment abroad have reached €45 million.
Despite the rising costs, the number of patients sent overseas each year has remained in single digits, reports Breaking News.
In 2025, eight patients were treated abroad at an average cost of €1.25 million each.
In 2024, nine patients were treated, with a slightly lower average cost of €1.18 million per person, reports Breaking News.
The highest per-patient cost was recorded in 2023, when it reached €1.36 million.
All patients were treated in facilities in the United Kingdom, though the HSE declined to provide further details on specific hospitals or locations, reports Breaking News.
The HSE also said it could not disclose patient numbers for certain years due to the risk of identifying individuals.
It said patients may be referred abroad when specialised mental health care is not available in Ireland, reports Breaking News.
Between 2015 and 2024, there were 21 referrals from HSE Mental Health Services and 16 from acute hospitals, reports Breaking News.
“The HSE Treatment Abroad Scheme covers the cost of planned treatment in another country in the European Union, European Economic Area, United Kingdom, or Switzerland.
“If the treatment needed is publicly available in Ireland, it can be accessed through the: Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NIPHS) or Cross Border Directive Scheme.”, reports Breaking News.
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