Europe and Health collaboration with Kent

Date 19th Janury 2009

Cross Border Health CareCurrent situation

NHS patients are entitled, subject to certain conditions, to receive reimbursements towards the costs of care received in another EU country

The patient pays upfront - reimbursement is up to the level that the care would have cost at home

Patients can only receive reimbursements for treatment that their PCT funds

Clarifying the rules and introducing measures to support cross-border provision of healthcare

As well as restating existing rights, the proposals:

Confirm that it is the patient’s home health system that decides what care will be covered and that the patient must follow the same conditions for accessing treatment as apply at home

Place strict limits on when prior authorisation systems can be made compulsory

Establish that the quality and safety standards of the country where care is provided apply

Some issues still unclear e.g. the circumstances in which patients can be required to seek prior authorisation

Major issues for the NHS

Determining what treatment a patient can receive: eligibility criteria, conditions for access and equity

What makes up a treatment package, does it include transport and hotel costs

Hospital and non-hospital care: a false distinction

Prior authorisation: facilitating informed patient choices

Quality and safety standards

Information

Framework for European Cooperation

The Kent experience of Cross Border Health Services

Using single patient policy to make decisions on requests form individuals and families

More requests form people in East Kent than West Kent

Opportunities for treatment in Europe not advertised

Thinking about potential markets in close proximity to Kent

Probably less then 1% activity and cost of our health services resources spent in Europe

Single patient requests in NHS West Kent

11 requests since Oct 06

2 approved

4 refused treatment could have been provided in the UK

5 not progressed by patients

Variety of countries not in close proximity to home

Country requested Types of requests

Spain Egg Donation

Cyprus Hernia

Poland Surgery

Germany Dental reconstruction

Milan Opthalmology special contact lenses

Holland Orthopaedics

Bordeaux France cardiology

Belgium Ablation

Single Patient Requests NHS Eastern & Coastal Kent

11 requests since April 08

3 approved

1 on going

7 refused due to lack of prior authorisation

Range of countries not related to proximity to home

Most orthopaedics

Specialist procedures like bariatric surgery

Cross Border Public Health-lots

• Bien Etre – 2 year project on health and well-being of primary school between Northernin North France and Dover-ongoing cross border rugby tournaments between the Kent and French schools completed 2007 funded by European Social Fund (Interreg)

• “Lets talk”-2 year research project into sexual health attitudes amongst young people between Northern France and Kent completed 2007 funded by the European Social Fund (Interreg)

• Collaboration between Romania and Kent sharing practice in health and social care ongoing

• Collaboration with Kent County Council and Kent University in Brussels• Planning to join the EU alcohol Forum• EU funded projects – applications in progress – outcome expected 20091.International Literature Review on Self efficacy of young people – Kent and Northern

France2.Establishment of cross border Society of Public Health & Social Medicine to explore

common health challenges and seek collaborative solutions to the problems – Kent and Northern France

Contact information

Meradin PeacheyDirector of Public Health

Eastern& Coastal Kent PCT

Kent County Council

West Kent PCT

 

Meradin.peachey@kent.gov.uk