Overseas Treatment (Hansard, 12 June 2002)

§ Mr. Goodman
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reciprocal rights NHS patients have for treatment in other EU countries. [59186]
1316W

§ Mr. Hutton
Regulations (EEC) 1408–71 and 574–72 (copies available in the Library) co-ordinate the social security and health care schemes of the EU member states. They contain provisions allowing access to health care throughout the EU on the same terms as provided to the host country's insured population. The following are the most important health care provisions of the regulationsemergency treatment for tourists temporarily visiting another EU country (the E111 arrangements); referral specifically for treatment of a pre-existing condition (the E112 scheme); health care for workers posted to another EU country (forms E101 and E128): health care in the new state of residence for state pensioners going to live in another EU state (E121); and health care for members of the family of workers or pensioners where they reside in a different EU state from the worker or pensioner (E109).

§ Chris Grayling
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to extend the pilot for the overseas treatment of NHS patients to the Epsom and Ewell constituency. [59092]

§ Mr. Hutton
The pilot scheme for the overseas treatment of national health service patients is now at an end. Any NHS body can legally commission treatment overseas for its patients. However, the Department has advised any trust wishing to refer patients overseas to contact one of the lead commissioners who have been set up to organise treatment for NHS patients overseas. These lead commissioners are based in Guy's and St. Thomas' Trust and Kent and Medway health authority.