| A ruling by the European Court of Justice
has paved the way for patients on long NHS waiting lists to seek treatment
within another EU country, with the Department of Health to pay the
bill. The ruling by the European Court of Justice followed a case
brought by two Dutch patients whose government refused to pay for
their necessary treatment abroad.
It effectively means that patients within all EU countries will
be entitled to seek treatment abroad unless their own government
can offer 'the same or equally effective treatment without undue
delay'. Patients can already be referred to a hospital within another
EU country if the treatment is not available in the home country.
In the UK last year for example, this option was only taken by about
1,100 patients.
Several EU countries, particularly Germany and France, have minimal
waiting lists compared to the UK. German wards for example, often
contain less beds and have more staff. This ruling will be a huge
relief for patients with debilitating, painful and deterioating
conditions such as cataracts and Glaucoma that usually have long
waiting lists.
The Department of Health is reviewing the implications of this
ruling. The BMA argue that some family doctors may be reluctant
to use the option because of the difficulties that could arise in
follow-up care.
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