To ask the Minister of Health what consideration is being given to a scheme enabling partial reimbursement of people travelling independently outside Northern Ireland for surgery.

On 15 June 2021, I announced that I would reinstate a limited administrative version of the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive for a 12 month period from 30 June 2021 to help reduce Northern Ireland waiting lists.

The Scheme is called the Republic of Ireland Reimbursement Scheme, it is based on the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive and is managed by the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB).

Patients are able to seek, and pay for, private treatment in the Republic of Ireland only and have the cost reimbursed by the HSCB. To use the scheme patients must get prior authorisation from the HSCB before they travel for treatment.

Retrospective applications will not be considered.

The amount of reimbursement will be limited to the cost that would have been incurred by health and social care in Northern Ireland if the same or an equivalent service had been provided here.

It should be noted that the following treatments and care will not be available under the Scheme –

•long term care which provides assistance with routine tasks i.e. social care

•access to and allocation of organs (for transplantation)

•public vaccination programmes against infectious diseases.

Full details and guidance on the Scheme are available on the Health and Social Care Board website at http://www.hscboard.hscni.net/travelfortreatment/

During the temporary period of the scheme my Department officials will be conducting a full policy review of the scheme and the principles of the Cross Border Directive with associated public consultation to consider if a longer term scheme should be developed.