Thanks to European Parliament approval, new

European rules are set to be in force by 2013 to allow people to receive

medical treatment in other EU Member States if their home country is

unable to provide essential medical care within a reasonable timeframe.

They will be able to have the treatment paid for or claim back the money

if they pay upfront.

UK citizens who fall ill abroad can already get emergency care

across the EU with their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The new

scheme expands this to 'elective' treatment' when a particular treatment

can be provided faster or more expertly abroad. But NHS doctors will

have to give prior authorisation for treatments abroad that can be

reimbursed, patients will only be entitled to reimbursement for

treatment that their home health authority would normally provide, and

travel or hotel costs cannot be claimed back.

Enfield Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford said: "The new rules represent a real milestone for cross-border

healthcare in Europe. They provide a coherent framework for UK patients

seeking treatment in another EU country."

"The right balance has been found between protecting national

health systems and strengthening patients' rights. The new rules guard

against health tourism, with foreign patients coming to the UK having to

pay the full NHS cost of treatment."