§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients received treatment abroad at the direction and expense of the NHS in(a) 2002 to date and (b) each of the last three years. [47648]
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§ Mr. HuttonUnder the pilot scheme to treat NHS patients overseas 181 patients received treatment overseas between 18 January and 12 April 2002.
The E112 scheme is the process through which patients may receive treatment in other European Economic Area (EEA) countries at the expense of the NHS. Applications are almost always instigated by patients rather than at the direction of the NHS. 310 applications for treatment were approved between 1 January and 12 April 2002. The figures for the last three years were as follows:
1999 860 2000 1100 2001 1140 All the above figures are for Great Britain and rounded to the nearest 10. They relate to applications approved during the relevant period, rather than individuals treated; some applications will have been in respect of the same individual. Moreover, some treatments approved in one year may have taken place the following year.