HC Deb 24 October 1979 vol 972 c218W
Mr. Shersby

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what cardiac and thoracic treatment is available under the National Health Service to Italian citizens referred for treatment in Great Britain; and whether identical benefit is available to British subjects in Italy.

Sir George Young

Under the EEC regulations, treatment available to persons ordinarily resident in this country is available on the same terms to a worker or a pensioner belonging to another EEC country who has been referred for treatment and whose coming for that purpose has been authorised by his competent institution. A corresponding obligation rests on the Italian authority in respect of British workers or pensioners referred to Italy with the approval of the competent institution—DHSS. A patient referred to the United Kingdom under these arrangements has to give advance notice and must take his place on any waiting list in the same way as a United Kingdom resident.