MEP says Health Service Directive allows best treatment for patients

6.15.00pm GMT Tue 15th Jan 2008

Today following delays over the publication of the draft Health Services Directive, local Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson, spoke to EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou encouraging him to publish the proposals as soon as possible.

Graham Watson commented;

"The proposed legislation should create a framework for cross-border health care without jeopardising the integrity of Britain's National Health Service. Patients rightly demand the best and quickest health treatment possible so why should you have to wait months for a hip operation in Bristol, for example, if there's a bed free in Birmingham, or even in Brussels or Bordeaux?"

Following concerns aired by some MP's and media commentators over the Directives potential impact on the NHS, he went on to explain

"Making this possible need not mean extra financial burdens for the healthcare systems of the countries where treatment is being sought. Medical care and procedures should remain reimbursable by the social security systems of the patients' countries of residence and in the cases of hospitalisation should require prior authorisation".