Cross Border Directive Queries

sabinalee

Hi,

Hope some of yous will give me idea about that scheeme.

My husband damage his shoulder year ago due to heavy lifting, reaching, picking at work for 10 years...as a van driver.

He is still on waiting list to see orthopaedic specialist in Connolly Hospital but we know he will wait long and longer 😣

After he used physiotherapy, and he does regulary exercises home he was able to back to work after 6 months under one condition...His employer agreed for different position where his shoulder is not involved with lifting more than 10 kilos and where he do not have to lift his over his chin.
His job is light but his work hours dropped dramatically ( from 35-39 stated on contract dropped to 25 per week)
Money are bad so my husband have to think about fixing his life and health issues mainly. He is 50.
His arm movements are limited and pain is coming back regualry, at the nights most of the times.

In January my husband visited his counrty and orthopaedic specialist privately. He took MRI results and CD he done and paid for in Ireland few months before.
Doctor checked carefully all screens from the scan and his diagnose was much more serious than that one in Ireland. Technician in Ireland stated the results as not clear as because of the arm movements! Even my husband shoulder was stiff and holded in special brackets.
Anyway doctor adviced that arthroscopic surgery, keyhole would help him. The cost is approx 1500 euro.
In Ireland...we heard that hospitals do not offer artroscopy and privately it cost here around 2.500-5000.

To the point:

Would there be any chance to get that surgery done and get refund for it under Cross Border Directive scheme?
Can waiting list letter would be enough to apply or jis GP have to fill in all papers?
Foes my husband have to go to his country again only to get pre authorisation papers filled in by his clinic?

Can you briefly advice what is step by step to follow?

We do not know where to start...and if we have any chance.
My husband earning dropped to minimum. I can see him in pain and loosing confidence...😣

Thank yyou kindly for any hope..

Squatter

The HSE's Patient Pathway guideline document (LINK) isn't the easiest to follow, but one thing that leaped out at from the HSE Cross Border guidelines was the following:

"A private outpatient appointment in the Republic of Ireland may not be used under any circumstances to exercise rights for the purposes of reimbursement under the provisions of the Cross Border Healthcare Directive. The attendance of a private appointment in Ireland deems the patient a private patient and not a public patient for the purpose of provisions the Cross Border Directive."

So tread carefully!