Skip to content
Home » Services » Services A-Z » Treatment abroad

Treatment abroad

If you are planning medical or dental treatment in another European Economic Area (EEA) country, you should discuss this fully with the NHS health professional that has lead responsibility for your NHS health or dental care. They can advise you on the treatment options available to you on the NHS.

Make sure that you are fully informed, and have all the information you need to make the right choices.  This should include as much information as possible about:

  • the treatment you are travelling to receive
  • the European healthcare provider that will carry out that treatment, including medical governance arrangements

You will also need to:

  • consider when you will be able to travel
  • consider how your medical notes will be exchanged
  • fully understand the conditions under which you will be treated in another EEA country, which may not be the same as the NHS
  • establish the treatment that the NHS Board is prepared to fund or reimburse
  • obtain prior authority from the NHS Board, where necessary
  • consider any after care or follow up treatment you might require and where this will be delivered
There are two different routes to arranging treatment in the EEA countries: the S2 scheme (formerly called E112), and the EU Cross Border Healthcare Directive.

Please note that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) does not cover planned treatment but entitles the holder to receive necessary healthcare provided by the state during short-term travel in the EEA in the event of sudden illness or accident. 
Treatment is provided by the state (private treatment is not covered) on the same basis as for those that are ordinarily resident in the EEA country that is being visited. However, the EHIC does not replace the requirement to have adequate independent travel insurance with a health element.

View our patient leaflet: Seeking medical treatment in another EEA country

If you are an NHS Lanarkshire resident and you have decided to exercise your rights to seek medical treatment in another EEA country under the S2 route or the EU Cross Border Directive, you should fully complete a European Healthcare Application Form and either submit it to NHS Ayrshire & Arran UNPACs office, 57 Lister Street, University Hospital Crosshouse, KA2 0BE or email it to aa.unpacsoffice_crosshouse_hospital@aapct.scot.nhs.uk

If you wish to travel to the European Economic Area (EEA) to receive addiction or rehabilitation services, under the terms of the European Cross-border Healthcare Directive, and be considered for reimbursement on your return, it is a condition that, at the very least, an assessment has been carried out by your local NHS addiction service before you travel.

The treatment you receive in another part of the EEA must be the same as or equivalent to the NHS treatment identified by that assessment as appropriate to address your particular medical requirements. This applies equally if the addiction or rehabilitation service is to be provided by telemedicine.

The best way to be sure about your eligibility for reimbursement is to seek advice from your GP, who will be able to discuss your case with our local addiction teams.

See NHS Inform for specific information about European Cross Border Healthcare policies and contacts within Scotland.
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Republic of Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland (S2 route only)