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Overseas treatment for NHS patients
There are two ways in which patients may go abroad for treatment within the EU; one where a commissioning body decides to commission care abroad for its patients, and one where a patient makes a request to go abroad for care. Guidance for each of these routes is below.
Requests to go abroad for treatment in the EU
There are currently, due to judgements of the European Court of Justice, two possible routes for patients who wish to go abroad for treatment within the EU - one through the E112 form, and one through the ‘Article 49’ route (named after the relevant article of the EU Treaty). We are lobbying in Europe to try and get this situation simplified, but for now please find below guidance to commissioners on the differences between the two routes. There is also separate guidance for commissioners on administering the E112 process.
Commissioning treatment in the EU
Treatment in the EEA is one of the options open to NHS/PCTs Trusts wishing to manage their waiting lists and reduce waiting times; and offer greater patient choice where this represents good value for money and increased convenience. Since January 2002 almost 600 patients have received treatment in the EEA in France, Belgium and Germany. The majority of these referrals have been for orthopaedic and some cardiac procedures. An independent evaluation of the overseas treatment pilot scheme found patients' reactions to be very positive. Feedback has remained positive in the 'live' project and patient take-up rates have exceeded expectation.
Department of Health policy statement: Where are NHS patients treated
The Department of Health policy is to advise the NHS in England to purchase spare capacity only within the European Economic Area.
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