§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition his Department uses of undue delay when assessing rights of NHS patients to access treatment in continental European hospitals. [89932]
§ Mr. HuttonThe concept of undue delay applied by the European Court of Justice in Case 157/99 GeraetsSmits and Peerbooms was concerned with the conditions for the grant of authorisation for treatment in another member state.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Oxford, West and Abingdon (Dr. Harris) on 2 November 2001, Official Report, column 895W.
§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the pilot scheme to send NHS patients for treatment in continental Europe; and when he plans to extend the availability of treatment in continental European hospitals of all NHS patients. [89931]
§ Mr. HuttonThe evaluation report of the overseas treatment pilot carried out by York University Health Economics Consortium was published in August. Copies are available in the Library and on the Department of Health website at http://www. doh.gov.uk/international/evaluationreports.htm.
Overseas treatment is an option open to national health service commissioners seeking to increase the number of patients treated, and reduce waiting times. Any NHS body can legally commission treatment abroad for its patients. However, it is up to local commissioners to decide, in the light of capacity constraints across their local health economies, and taking into account the different commissioning options available to them, whether or not to refer patients overseas for treatment.
The Department has advised any trust wishing to refer patients overseas to contact one of the two "lead commissioners" who are responsible on behalf of the 139W NHS in England for selecting overseas providers and contracting with them for treatment for NHS patients. These lead commissioners are based in Guy's and St. Thomas' Trust, and Kent and Medway Health Authority.