EU directive on patients' rights to healthcare in other European countries

This is a consultation on the government’s suggestions for implementing the EU Directive 2011/24/EU. This directive concerns patients’ rights to cross-border healthcare in other member states of the European Economic Area.

We are seeking views on:

• centralising cross-border administration at the NHS England from 1 April 2013
• setting up a cross-border healthcare National Contact Point for England (within NHS England) by October 2013
• improving information on patients’ rights and entitlements
• provisions for dealing with patients from other countries who want to use NHS facilities under the terms of the Directive
• how the processes of prior authorisation and patient reimbursement should work

An impact assessment is also available.