According to the Irish Times, HSE figures show that 2,234 Irish patients used the EU cross-border healthcare directive in the first eight months of this year, more than in the whole of 2017.
The article says that further rise in the flow of patients to the UK and Poland, principally, can be expected following the launch of new private services offering to facilitate them in their use of the directive.
The new services promise to help patients with obtaining funding and referrals and, in some cases, will provide assistance with travel and accommodation costs.
Charter Medical Group recently launched its cross-border directive elective surgery service, saying it has signed an agreement with a British hospital group to treat Irish patients under the directive.
The most common surgeries Irish people travel to other EU states for are cataract operations, hip and knee replacements, and gynaecological procedures.
Popular locations include the UK, France, Poland and the Netherlands.
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