Website of the Department of Health

Frequently asked questions

Can I have my treatment overseas?

NHS primary care trusts can arrange for NHS patients to receive treatment in the EEA if they think that this is the best way to help reduce waiting times for their local population. If your local primary care trust decides to arrange for patients to travel to other European countries, perhaps those who are waiting for particular operations, it is likely that they will contact suitable patients to offer them the opportunity, and provide information for those interested in the scheme. Patients will only travel to mainland Europe for treatment where that is what they want and after a full clinical assessment shows that it meets their needs.

Do I have to accept treatment overseas if it's offered?

Patients will only travel to mainland Europe for treatment where that is what they want and after a full clinical assessment shows that it meets their needs. If you do not agree to it, you can request to stay with your local consultant.

Maternity care

There are special rules if you want to go to another EEA country (or Switzerland) specifically to give birth. You need to write to the Department of Health (or the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland) explaining why you want care outside the UK and enclose evidence from your GP or midwife of your due date. Include your full address, NI number, date of birth and dates of travel. You can also apply if you are not returning to the UK. See page 64 for contact details.

What happens once I choose to be referred overseas?

If you are offered the choice of treatment abroad and you decide to take it up, you will attend an Overseas Assessment Clinic  (OAC) in the UK (which will be run by an overseas consultant). If you are assessed to be clinically fit to travel, suitable dates will be set up and your transport will be organised to the overseas hospital. You are likely to travel with a group of other patients, and will be accompanied from the UK by a Euro-PAL.  After your treatment, you will stay in the overseas hospital to recuperate, before travelling home. Post-operative follow-ups will be held in the UK.

How do I travel?

Patients usually travel in groups of between 5 to 25 people

The NHS Overseas Commissioner will decide and arrange the best mode of travel; this could be either by train or plane and usually includes coach travel in Europe. Patients receiving cardiac care usually require an ambulance

How long will I travel?

As a general rule we limit travel time to no more than 3 hours for each stage

Can someone come with me?

You will be escorted by a bi/multi-lingual "Euro-PAL" who is not a qualified doctor or nurse but will be experienced in taking patients to and from the overseas hospital

A relative or friend is welcomed to escort you for your treatment but will need to pay for and to make their own arrangement for travel and accommodation

The NHS cannot pay for a relative or friend to travel with you except in exceptional circumstances where your GP has confirmed that you require the help of another person on medical grounds. (This is automatic for cardiac patients)

What happens when I arrive at the overseas hospital?

The Euro-PAL will accompany you to the hospital and go through the medical and administrative admission procedures with each patient.  Patients will meet the surgeons and nursing staff and any medical questions will be answered at this time.  The Euro-PAL will arrange to connect your bed-side telephone and explain the daily ward routine, including how to use the nurse call system and provide information on all aspects of your stay.  The Euro-PAL is available at any time (outside of normal working hours there is a Euro-PAL on-call system) to provide additional advice and support where necessary.

How long will I stay?

Usually patients stay between 2 - 3 weeks depending on their condition and the amount of physiotherapy and rehabilitation required by each patient

All patients must be discharged as fit to travel home by the overseas doctor

Will the doctors and nurses speak English?

Yes, and you will have access to a Euro-PAL on a daily basis to provide extra help if needed. You will also have access to buy English newspapers and generally an English TV channel

How will I get home?

Once a definite discharge date is known, the Euro-PAL organises transport and return flights etc home.  Patients are accompanied back to the UK by a Euro-PAL and are met by patient transport at the UK Terminus and taken to their homes or to a designated drop-off point.

Will my own doctor know what has happened when I was abroad?

Every patient will have the Discharge Note as you would get in UK hospitals, sent to their GP and UK Consultants.  A Discharge Summary (in English) is also sent to the GPs and UK Consultants within 10 days of discharge.

Do I receive any follow-up care back in the UK?

Yes, your overseas clinician will follow up usually 4 - 8 weeks following your surgery at an outpatient clinic in your local area

What happen if I have complications when I get home?

This is highly unlikely, however, if necessary you can visit your GP or Emergency department in the usual way

Will I have to pay for anything?

Overseas treatment is an NHS service, and as such you will not be expected to pay any of the treatment or overseas travel costs. All NHS treatment is free at the point of delivery. A small amount of money for everyday personal items should be carried.

Is there any other way that I could ask for treatment in Europe?

Under European Union law, it is also possible for people to be authorised by the Department of Health to go from one EU country to another for specific treatment under the state healthcare scheme of the 'host' country. If authorisation is given, form E112 is issued.  This certifies that the sending country will reimburse the host country providing the treatment the medical costs that it (the host country) would meet for one of its own insured residents.

Authorisation does not have to be granted if the treatment in question is available under the NHS and can be given in the time normally necessary, "taking account of the patient's current state of health and the probable course of the disease".  If, however, the treatment is not something available under the NHS, authorisation may be granted on discretionary grounds if there are strong clinical grounds (supported by the patient's specialists in this country) and the patient's Primary Care Trust (PCT) agrees to meet the costs.

What if I want to be treated outside the EEA?

Patients do not have a right to have treatment outside the EEA paid for by their local PCT.  Individual's requesting treatment outside the EEA should be aware that PCT's are advised to consider the following criteria before approving treatment outside the EEA:

1. the condition is of a serious nature;
2. suitable treatment is not available within the UK or EEA;
3. the treatment abroad is well-established, not merely experimental;
4. there is a probability of significant benefit to the patient

Who do I contact for further information?

The key contacts in the Department of Health responsible for overseas treatment are:

DH International Branch