A newly established hospital in Valencia will now be able to accommodate Irish patients who are waiting for surgical operations under the EU Cross Border Directive, reports Breaking News.
The Vithas Valencia Turia Hospital, in collaboration with Healthcare Abroad, is set to carry out thousands of transformative surgeries each year.
This partnership is a significant step in broadening healthcare access for Irish citizens through the EU Cross Border Healthcare Directive. It is part of a major collaboration between Healthcare Abroad—Ireland’s foremost provider of cross-border healthcare—and the Vithas Hospital Group, reports Breaking News.
Under the directive, Irish residents are entitled to receive medical treatment in other EU countries. The Health Service Executive (HSE) will reimburse the costs of treatments, including initial consultations and follow-up physiotherapy.
The Vithas Valencia Turia Hospital is a modern, purpose-designed medical centre, offering 95 beds (64 of which are private rooms), 8 surgical theatres, and 7 ICU beds. The hospital will focus on elective orthopaedic surgeries such as hip and knee replacements and is expected to serve as many as 1,000 Irish patients per year.
The launch coincides with new findings commissioned by Healthcare Abroad, which show that one in five patients (20%) within Ireland’s public health system have missed out on important personal events—like weddings or family gatherings—due to surgery delays. Furthermore, nearly a third (30%) have thought about seeking medical treatment outside of Ireland, reports Breaking News.
Speaking about the news, Paul Byrne, chief operations officer at Healthcare Abroad said: “The opening of Vithas Valencia Turia Hospital marks a major step forward in improving timely access to surgical care for Irish patients who are facing long waiting times in Ireland. It allows them to access timely, high-quality treatment in a world-class facility, while still within the Irish public healthcare framework through the EU Cross Border Directive,” reports Breaking News.
Healthcare Abroad partners with 86 accredited private hospitals throughout the EU to offer Irish patients nearly all procedures that are available publicly in Ireland.
They collaborate directly with patients, medical professionals, and the HSE to ensure a transparent and supportive experience throughout the process. So far, over 2,500 patients have benefited from the service through the EU Cross Border Directive, reports Breaking News.
“This is about giving Irish patients a real and supported alternative, without having to wait in pain,” Byrne added. “With Healthcare Abroad guiding patients from GP referral to aftercare, the experience is as safe, familiar, and seamless as possible,” reports Breaking News.
Although patients must pay for travel and accommodation themselves, the HSE covers the cost of medical procedures, consultations, and physiotherapy. This makes the service an affordable and practical solution for many patients in Ireland.
Credit Unions across the country have shown strong support for the initiative, offering flexible loan options to help patients fund their care in advance of HSE reimbursement, reports Breaking News.
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