European and External Affairs Committee
Patients' Rights in Cross-Border Healthcare
Terms of reference
- To review the potential implications for Wales of the Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare Directive
- To explore the Welsh Assembly Government’s position vis-à-vis these proposals, and the extent to which this is in line with the UK Government’s negotiating position
- To make recommendations, as appropriate, to the Welsh Assembly Government, and to lay its report before the National Assembly for Wales, to influence the UK line in negotiating on this dossier
Issues to consider in the inquiry
In its evidence to the House of Lords the NHS Confederation noted that in preparing its response to the Commission’s proposals, they had carried out a consultation exercise which essentially drew out an English view, as the vast majority of the responses they received came from organisations in England. Scotland has already undertaken a separate consultation and this may suggest a need to look at the Directive from a Welsh perspective to see if there are any particular issues that would impact on healthcare provision in Wales, or that are distinct from England.
Bearing this in mind the inquiry will look at:
- The impact of the Directive on NHS Wales;
- ¡Consideration of the UK Government’s response to the Directive and its impact on the different health care services in the UK;
- Consideration of the issues which could arise from the proposed Directive including authorisation, inequities and redress;
- ¡What impact potential increases in patient outflow and inflow might have on NHS Wales’ resources including provision of information and longer waiting lists;
- Consideration of views regarding proposed payment mechanisms;
- ¡How Wales might meet the benefits/challenges of enhanced co-operation in the areas highlighted in the directive including e-health, patient care standards and quality.
Meeting papers and transcripts
Written Evidence
