§ Earl Howe asked Her Majesty's GovernmentHow many National Health Service patients have been treated overseas during each month following the Department of Health press release dated 6th March 2002 (reference 2002/0118). [HL2699]
§ Baroness AndrewsNational Health Service patients can be referred for treatment abroad under the European Union-wide health-care co-ordination regulations (the E112 scheme) or through direct referral from their NHS trust.
The table shows the monthly breakdown of direct referrals of NHS patients abroad, and E112 forms issued for the whole of England, Scotland and Wales. In addition, 190 patients were referred abroad as part of an overseas treatment pilot programme between January and April 2002. No monthly breakdown for the patients referred under this scheme is available.
Of the direct referrals abroad, 243 patients were referred for orthopaedic procedures, and 2 patients were referred under the cardiac choice pilot.
19WA
Month Direct referrals E112 March 2002 Pilot project (see above) 86 April 2002 Pilot project (see above) 110 May 2002 0 78 June 2002 0 85 July 2002 0 109 August 2002 0 111 September 2002 0 131 October 2002 12 90 November 2002 22 73 December 2002 4 62 January 2003 39 70
Month Direct referrals E112 February 2003 76 64 March 2003 92 87 April 2003 2 88 Total 247 1,244