Northern Ireland’s Department of Health is pursuing reimbursement arrangements for people who travel to the Republic of Ireland or EU countries for surgery while on long hospital waiting lists. According to BBC reporting this week, the aim is to ease pressure on a system under considerable strain and to open up treatment capacity for those who have been waiting the longest.
This development raises important questions for the voluntary and community sector.
Who does this affect?
Cross-border surgery is not an option that works equally for everyone. Travelling for treatment requires time, money, confidence, and support resources that are not available to all. People living with disability, poverty, caring responsibilities, or language barriers may face real obstacles in accessing cross-border options, even when those options are technically available to them.
For VCSE organisations, this creates a practical and advocacy role.
What can the sector do?
- Information and navigation: Help people understand their rights and options when waiting for treatment
- Practical support: Connect people with travel assistance, accommodation support, or carer respite where needed
- Advocacy: Ensure that cross-border arrangements are designed and implemented equitably, with the needs of the most disadvantaged patients at the centre
- Community voices: Share the experiences of people affected with policymakers and planners
At NIHC, we believe that access to care must be equitable regardless of where treatment takes place. We will continue to monitor this development and keep our members informed as further detail emerges.
👉 Read the BBC report: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqj45jqxe4po
If your organisation works with people navigating long waiting lists or cross-border health journeys, we’d welcome your insights as this policy evolves.
