How surgery abroad works with Surgery Now
A clear, step-by-step route for patients in Ireland who want to understand how treatment in Spain, HSE reimbursement support and Surgery Now coordination fit together.
Get your surgery refunded by the HSE
The process is easier to understand when it is broken into four clear stages.
1. Consultation
We start by understanding your condition, what treatment you may need and whether a pathway abroad is suitable.
2. Planning
We coordinate appointments, pre-travel requirements, hospital details, accommodation and transport planning.
3. Surgery abroad
You travel to Spain for treatment with your specialist team, with practical support around your stay.
4. Recovery & refund
After treatment, you submit the reimbursement application with the required documents. We support the paperwork process.
EU Cross-Border Directive scheme
The Cross-Border Directive allows eligible patients to access planned healthcare in another EU or EEA country and apply for reimbursement from the HSE afterwards.
The key point: this is usually a reimbursement route. You normally pay the hospital or clinic first, then submit the required documentation to the HSE.
Available publicly in Ireland
In general, the treatment must be healthcare that you would be entitled to in Ireland’s public healthcare system.
Documentation is essential
The reimbursement application usually requires referral/waiting list evidence, invoices and documents signed by the healthcare provider abroad.
The patient pathway
From first contact to reimbursement paperwork, this is how the journey typically works.
Tell us what treatment you need
Complete the form or contact us. We review your situation and explain what information may be needed.
Prepare your medical information
This may include a GP referral, reports, scans, blood tests or confirmation of your public pathway in Ireland.
Choose the right hospital and specialist
We help identify an appropriate clinic or hospital pathway in Spain based on your treatment needs.
Consult before you travel
Where available, you can speak with your surgeon or specialist team before travelling, so you understand the plan.
Travel, treatment and aftercare
We support the practical details around appointments, accommodation, transfers and recovery planning in Spain.
Submit the HSE reimbursement application
After treatment, the reimbursement application is prepared with invoices and supporting documentation.
What Surgery Now helps with
The goal is to reduce confusion and make the route abroad easier to manage.
Clear next steps
We explain what comes first, what documents may be needed and how the process normally moves forward.
Hospital pathway
We help connect your case with suitable hospitals, clinics and specialists in Spain.
Travel organisation
We support travel, accommodation, airport transfers and appointment coordination.
Treatment support
We help keep the journey organised before, during and after your treatment abroad.
Refund paperwork
We assist with the reimbursement application and required supporting documentation.
Ongoing guidance
You have a clear point of contact instead of trying to organise each step alone.
Completely free service for patients
Surgery Now’s support service is free to patients. Our services are funded by our partner hospitals and clinics.
Important things to understand
A transparent process helps patients make better decisions before committing to travel.
It is normally reimbursement-based
You usually pay the provider abroad first, then apply to the HSE for reimbursement after treatment.
Reimbursement depends on eligibility
The HSE assesses applications and repayment is generally linked to what the treatment would cost in Ireland or abroad, whichever is lower.
Paperwork matters
Referral letters, invoices, provider forms and treatment documentation are central to the application.
Start with a simple enquiry
Tell us what treatment you need and our team will contact you to explain how the process works, what documents may be needed and what the next step could be.
- ☎+353 1 437 0960
- ✉info@surgerynow.ie
- ✓Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm