The EU is an entity not noted for encouraging competition, especially in the public sector.
But a ruling delivered by the European Court of Justice yesterday promises to inject into our ailing NHS more patient choice and competition than all the government’s current initiatives to promote them put together.
According to a report in today’s Times, the court found a 74 year old woman from Bedford entitled to reimbursement from her local Primary Health Care Trust to the tune of £4000 she paid for a hip replacement in France after it told her she must wait 12 months for the procedure at home.
Her lawyers argued this amounted to ‘undue delay’ since both French and British consultants whom she saw informed her that her condition warranted more urgent treatment.
When her Primary Care Trust refused to authorise her treatment abroad, she went ahead with the surgery there anyway, and then sought reimbursement from it.
Despite the Court’s decision yesterday, the case is by no means finally resolved. The Department of Health remains unwilling to accept the ruling, reportedly arguing that ‘if all NHS patients were guaranteed reimbursement when they sought treatment abroad it could undermine the NHS system of waiting lists.’
The Advocate-General of the European Court who delivered yesterday’s ruling was not convinced by the government’s argument and is reported to have said:
‘The fact that the NHS is an entirely public body, funded by the State and providing health care free at the point of delivery, is irrelevant for determining whether the situation falls within the scope of the Treaty’, permitting freedom of movement within the EU by citizens of its countries for receipt of all services.’
An interesting judgement, and one certain to give NHS managers much food for thought, as they settle down to enjoy the festive season. Should it bring on ulcers in them, they can at least comfort themselves with the thought speedier treatment than at home might now be freely available abroad!
Of course, an alternative way the NHS might decide to deal with the problem of demand for its services outstripping supply is to follow more widely the example set by Greater Peterborough Primary Care Trust which is reported in today's Times to have chosen to keep secret the location of two new NHS dental surgeries to prevent queues forming outside them.
A spokeswoman for the Trust is reported to have said in explanation of its decision: 'We do have to be cloak-and-dagger about the whole thing, otherwise we could have patients queuing up outside the surgeries for a space, which has happened elsewhere in the country.'
Far better to conceal from the British piblic there are health services unavailable to them than to raise trheir expectations in vain.
I can see the Government struggling next to shut down the Eurostar to prevent health tourism abroad. somehow, I think, however the Euro cat is out of the bag and it won't be long before we shall all be travelling abroad for our by-passes as well as for our booze!
Comments (1)
I am particularly interested in the dentistry issues. I have tried all my local NHS dentists and none are willing to take me on,so I have arranged to go prrivatly in Hungary. Does this mean I should be able to claim the NHS costs back ?
Posted by Chris Houghton | May 16, 2006 3:20 PM
Posted on May 16, 2006 15:20