Patients may receive treatment in other member states of the European Economic Area and in Switzerland through the E112 referral scheme, in accordance with Regulation (EEC) 1408/71. This regulation co-ordinates the social security and healthcare schemes of the member states.
Information about patients from England, Scotland and Wales referred abroad using the E112 procedure is shown in the table (only figures from 1998 were readily available).
Number of E112s issued 1998 813 1999 1,099 2001 861 2000 1,139 2002 1,120 2003 1,052 2004 353 2005 228 2006 357 Note: The drop in referrals from 2004 is due to the change in EC healthcare rules that took place that year. Since 1 June 2004, patients no longer need an E112 for the ongoing care of pre-existing medical conditions. This is now covered on the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).