HC Deb 17 November 2003 vol 413 cc610-1W
Mr. Brazier

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what basis patients are selected for the NHS overseas treatment scheme; and who is involved in the making of that decision. [136746]

Mr. Hutton

Local national health service trusts determine the process for selecting patients for treatment abroad. However, two key determinants are always addressedThe patient is clinically fit to travel The patient is clinically fit to be operated on

In general, in selecting patients for a NHS overseas treatment scheme, acute trusts will review their waiting lists and identify suitable patients who are then contacted to offer patients the choice of travelling for treatment either overseas or in the private sector. Where patients express an interest in treatment abroad, either the local trust or the overseas commissioner (in accordance with local agreement) seeks approval from the patient's general practitioner that they are fit to travel. Before travelling overseas, all patients attend an overseas assessment clinic, run by the overseas clinicians. This allows the overseas clinicians to carry out a pre-operative assessment to determine whether the patient is suitable for surgery and to travel to the overseas hospital.