The NHS Confederation's European Office has published the first detailed analysis of implications arising from an EU Directive which clarifies the rights of patients to receive healthcare in other European countries.
At a time when the Government is proposing to extend patient choice and diversify providers in the healthcare market, the publication looks at the significant implications the directive will have for NHS commissioners and providers.
The EU cross border healthcare directive, which clarifies the rights of patients travelling abroad for NHS-funded healthcare, will come into force in the UK in 2013.
This will be at a time when primary care trusts, who currently retain the power to make decisions on cross-border healthcare, will be winding down and the NHS will be in the middle of a £15-20 billion efficiency challenge.
In particular the briefing highlights that:
- a rise in waiting times for certain treatments in England could lead to an increased number of NHS patients seeking healthcare abroad;
- commissioners will need to have a clear, transparent list of which types of healthcare they do or do not fund. This will be especially important given the NHS is moving towards a system which will allow for greater variation at local level about what treatments patients are entitled to receive;
- providers will have opportunities to market themselves to foreign patients to help diversify their income, particularly given the current financial climate and the proposed removal of the private patient income cap.
Elisabetta Zanon, director of the NHS Confederation's European Office, said:
"There will be a substantial amount of change going on in the NHS over the next few years. Commissioners and providers will be implementing this Directive at a time of significant reorganisation and severe financial restraint.
"It is with these changes in mind that the full implications of this Directive should be considered. With a greater emphasis on patient choice and much more variety at local level on the treatments provided, how will commissioners ensure they are being fully transparent with patients about what they are entitled to?
"The Government's proposed removal of the private patient income cap will enable NHS Foundation Trusts to take full advantage of some of the opportunities which this Directive offers to market themselves to non-UK patients. How do we ensure that NHS trusts do not do this to the detriment of NHS patients?"
This briefing considers the challenges relating to cross-border healthcare the service will have to consider, understand and plan for in the coming two years, whatever the final structure of the reforms.
Notes
1. The NHS European Office monitors EU developments and influences them in the interest of the NHS. It is part of the NHS Confederation and funded by the strategic health authorities in England.
2. The full briefing on the implications of the EU directive can be found here.
Source:
The NHS Confederation
At a time when the Government is proposing to extend patient choice and diversify providers in the healthcare market, the publication looks at the significant implications the directive will have for NHS commissioners and providers.
The EU cross border healthcare directive, which clarifies the rights of patients travelling abroad for NHS-funded healthcare, will come into force in the UK in 2013.
This will be at a time when primary care trusts, who currently retain the power to make decisions on cross-border healthcare, will be winding down and the NHS will be in the middle of a £15-20 billion efficiency challenge.
In particular the briefing highlights that:
- a rise in waiting times for certain treatments in England could lead to an increased number of NHS patients seeking healthcare abroad;
- commissioners will need to have a clear, transparent list of which types of healthcare they do or do not fund. This will be especially important given the NHS is moving towards a system which will allow for greater variation at local level about what treatments patients are entitled to receive;
- providers will have opportunities to market themselves to foreign patients to help diversify their income, particularly given the current financial climate and the proposed removal of the private patient income cap.
Elisabetta Zanon, director of the NHS Confederation's European Office, said:
"There will be a substantial amount of change going on in the NHS over the next few years. Commissioners and providers will be implementing this Directive at a time of significant reorganisation and severe financial restraint.
"It is with these changes in mind that the full implications of this Directive should be considered. With a greater emphasis on patient choice and much more variety at local level on the treatments provided, how will commissioners ensure they are being fully transparent with patients about what they are entitled to?
"The Government's proposed removal of the private patient income cap will enable NHS Foundation Trusts to take full advantage of some of the opportunities which this Directive offers to market themselves to non-UK patients. How do we ensure that NHS trusts do not do this to the detriment of NHS patients?"
This briefing considers the challenges relating to cross-border healthcare the service will have to consider, understand and plan for in the coming two years, whatever the final structure of the reforms.
Notes
1. The NHS European Office monitors EU developments and influences them in the interest of the NHS. It is part of the NHS Confederation and funded by the strategic health authorities in England.
2. The full briefing on the implications of the EU directive can be found here.
Source:
The NHS Confederation
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