News

10th June 2005

Patient rights to seek treatment on the Continent approved by European Parliament

London MEP John Bowis’ report to the European Parliament on “patient mobility” won an overwhelming majority in the vote – 554 for and just 12 against.

Conservative spokesman in the European parliament, John Bowis said it would make it easier for Londoners to escape Labour’s NHS waiting lists and opt for treatment in another EU member state. Mr Bowis defines the rights of Londoners to seek treatment abroad if they find the treatment needed is not available in Britain or there is an undue delay. “There have been a number of cases in the past where patients have experienced exceptionally long waiting times for an operation when they could have gone to another European country.  We now need clear guidelines so that patients can exercise their rights and for health authorities to manage patient mobility,”says Mr Bowis.

His report follows a series of rulings by the European Court granting rights to patients to seek treatment in other member states and to be reimbursed by their own national health system.