§ Mr. RuffleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received regarding the right of NHS patients to choose to have operations performed in hospitals outside the UK within the EU. [105860]
§ Mr. HuttonOver the past three months members of the public have made representations regarding the right to be treated abroad through a number of different routes. Letters of inquiry, e-mails and phone calls are received from patients, asking about their rights to be treated abroad in general terms.
The table shows the number of Private Office, and Treat Official correspondence received over the last three months. These figures include inquiries regarding the direct referral system only, as figures relating to the numbers of queries regarding the E112 system are not available. 221 E112 referrals have been authorised in the last three months.
620WThe hon. Member may also wish to he aware of an application to the High Court for judicial review of a decision to refuse an application for treatment in France in the case of Watts v. Bedford Primary Care Trust. The hearing was on 9–11 April; judgment was reserved and is awaited.
Number of Private Office and Treat Official correspondence received relating to the treatment abroad programme Month Private Office Correspondence Treat Official Correspondence January 2003 0 6 February 2003 1 1 March 2003 2 1