Accessing treatment in countries of the European Economic Area - The All Wales Procedure for Welsh Patients Accessing Treatment in Countries of the European Economic Area ceased at 11 pm on 31st December 2020. Requests and claims for reimbursement under this procedure will not be considered.

S2 funding route (Europe and Switzerland)

The UK has left the EU and access to treatment in Europe has changed.

However, you may still be able to access NHS-funded healthcare in Europe via the S2 (planned treatment) route, if you fulfil certain eligibility criteria.

What is S2 and how can I access it?

The S2 is a direct-funding route arrangement between the NHS and the state healthcare provider in the country of your choice, by Prior Agreement.

You must get prior authorisation from the health board before receiving treatment.

When choosing the S2 route, it is your responsibility to make the arrangements, including finding a healthcare provider.

Travel, accommodation and other associated costs will need to be arranged at your own expense.

It’s important that you do research and gather enough information to make an informed choice because the NHS will not be liable for negligence or failure of treatment. 

You should also ensure you have adequate insurance. Most travel insurance policies will not cover planned treatment abroad, so specialist cover may be needed.

The treatment must be available under the NHS in Wales and must be available under the treating county’s state healthcare scheme.

Retrospective applications and applications for reimbursement of treatment costs will not be considered.

If an application is approved, the treatment will be provided under the same conditions of care and payment that would apply to residents of the country that you will be treated in.

This could mean you will have to pay a percentage of the costs personally, this is called a co-payment charge.

Providers that accept patients under the S2 funding route should never ask you to pay for their eligible treatment costs, except in the case of a co-payment charge.

S2s cannot be issued / approved if any of the treatment costs have already been paid for (unless the payment relates to the co-payment charge).

The S2 funding route is not a reimbursement service.

Please read the information available in the guidance notes which outlines the eligibility criteria and information required to support S2 applications.

NOTE: The Local Health Board is not obliged to approve an S2 application that does not satisfy the eligibility criteria.

S2 and maternity

S2 applications relating to maternity are processed differently.

Go to the NHS website for advice on giving birth outside the UK and to download an application form.

More information

Go to the S2 planned treatment application form guidance notes. Refer to these when completing your application.

Go to the S2 planned treatment application form.

Go to the S2 treatment provider declaration form.

Go to the NHS website for further information on the Planned Treatment Scheme (S2 funding route).