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UK Patients Could Soon Find Themselves Going to France for Surgery

17/09/2015

UK Patients Could Soon Find Themselves Going to France for SurgeryBritish citizens residing in the south of England could soon see themselves travelling to Calais to undergo surgical procedures if a new deal is finalised by the NHS.

The South Kent Coast Clinical Commissioning Group, which covers a population of some 202,000 people in the Folkestone and Dover area, drew up the proposals so that patients requiring routine operations and treatment could undergo them in France. It would not only allow said patients to be treated quicker, but would also drive down overall hospital waiting times.

Two hospitals in Calais, the Centre Hospitalier de Calais and the Fondation Hospitale, would provide treatment for cataracts, orthopaedics, gynaecology and other routine procedures.

Patients will be able to arrange treatment in France via their GPs and while the cost of travel and expenses would need to be footed by the individual, the NHS would pick up the bill for the medical treatment.

The option to be treated in France would only be available if the patient discussed it with their GP, Hazel Carpenter from South Kent CCG told the BBC.

It’s a situation that has arisen because the two French healthcare providers, along with several from the UK, threw their hats into the ring when the NHS trust invited such organisations to apply

"We carried out a careful assessment of the services they offer and are visiting sites," said Carpenter.

"The two French providers, among others, fulfilled our criteria and we expect to finalise a contract with them,” she added.

Damian Collins, an MP for Folkestone and Hythe in Kent, welcomed the idea, saying it was sensible due to the fact that France is actually closer and more accessible than some parts of London. He also described the hospital in Calais as “fantastic”.

 

Centre-Hospitalier-de-Calais

 

Photo: Centre Hospitalier de Calais
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