§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have taken up the option of treatment abroad under the NHS scheme; and what criteria are used to decide to which patients such treatment should be offered. [184039]
§ Mr. HuttonFrom January 2002 to the end of June 2004, 879 patients have been treated overseas on the National Health Service.
Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for commissioning overseas treatment for NHS patients. Individual PCTs work with their local acute trusts to determine the criteria used to identify those patients suitable for treatment abroad. As a general rule, acute trusts have selected patients for treatment overseas who have been waiting a long time for simple elective procedures such as knee and hip replacements, hernia and cataract procedures. These patients' diagnoses, medical conditions, fitness and willingness to travel and be treated overseas will then be taken into account to determine which patients will benefit most from this treatment in Europe.