The Waiting List Initiative

See if you are eligible

Fill out our simple form

The Waiting List Initiative

See if you are eligible

Fill out our simple form

The Waiting List Initiative

See if you are eligible

Fill out our simple form

The Waiting List Initiative

Medinet Ireland is one of Ireland’s leading and most trusted cross-border healthcare facilitators. We connect Irish patients with our partners in Spain, to help you receive the treatment you need without the extensive waiting time.

Under the EU Cross-Border Directive, Irish residents can access medical treatment in any other EU country if they have been waiting for their procedure for over 12 months. As part of this scheme, patients must be accompanied by a family member or friend, and all medical costs are fully reimbursed by the HSE.

Our role is to help you find the best solution for your overdue knee or hip operation. With our expertise, Medinet Ireland can support you through every stage of your healthcare journey, from looking after the approval process to booking your accommodation.

We provide a trusted, streamlined journey to faster, high-quality care – so all you have to do is focus on what really matters: your health and well-being.

How it works – Why go to Spain?

Spain is an excellent choice for knee or hip operations under the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive because it combines highly qualified orthopaedic specialists, modern medical facilities, shorter waiting times, and significantly lower treatment costs compared to many other EU countries.

With Medinet Ireland, you will have access to an Irish chaperone throughout your stay in Spain, who are there to advise and assist you at every step of your journey. You and your travel companion will also be fully cared for in an Irish run hotel, close to the nearby beach, so you can feel at home whilst you recover – just with a little more sunshine!

Find out more about the full process, from approval to recovery

How it works

What people say

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I was waiting over a year for a knee replacement. Medinet got me surgery in Spain within a month — and I was reimbursed by the HSE. The care was outstanding.

Mary O., Dublin

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The whole process was smooth. Flights, hotel, surgery, and physio — all arranged. I’m walking pain-free again.

John M., Cork

What is the EU Cross-Border Directive?

The Cross-Border Healthcare Directive is an EU law that allows EU citizens the right to receive medical treatment in any other EU country, accompanied by a friend or family member, and be reimbursed for care abroad by their home healthcare system.

This means that if you are facing long waiting lists for your knee or hip operation, you can choose to have your procedure in another EU member state, like Spain. The treatment will be paid for upfront, and Medinet Ireland will guide you through the reimbursement process to claim back the cost of the procedure.

Click here to learn more

NI Waiting list Reimbursement Scheme

This Scheme is a programme run by the Department of Health, Northern Ireland (DoH) which allows eligible residents of Northern Ireland to pay for private treatment abroad (initially in the Republic of Ireland, and now also in the EU) and then seek reimbursement from the DoH under certain conditions.

In short, if you’ve been on a waiting list in the NHS/HSC system in Northern Ireland for more than 52 weeks (one year), and you meet the rules, you may choose to get the treatment elsewhere, pay for it yourself, and then claim money back.

Learn more from the NHS NI

Our top 5 FAQs

How is Medinet different from other providers?

Unlike our competitors, we go beyond travel and surgery. Our service includes: pre-op assessments in Ireland, integrated consultant teams, post-op follow-up in Ireland, admin support for HSE reimbursement, access to physiotherapy and digital recovery tools. This ensures continuity of care and peace of mind throughout your journey, knowing that you will be fully supported by a clinical team on your return home after your surgery.

We go beyond travel and surgery. Our service includes:

Pre-op assessments in Ireland
Integrated consultant teams
Post-op follow-up in Ireland
Admin support for HSE reimbursement
Access to physiotherapy and digital recovery tools

This ensures continuity of care and peace of mind throughout your journey.

Who qualifies for treatment under the Directive?

To qualify for the treatment you must:

Be ordinarily resident in Ireland
Be entitled to public healthcare
Have a referral from an Irish GP or consultant
Be seeking a treatment that is publicly available in Ireland (Hips and Knees are)
Obtain prior authorization from the HSE (we help with this)

Will I get help with the HSE preapproval process?

Yes. Our admin team will guide you step-by-step through the HSE Cross Border Directive application, ensuring all documentation is correct and submitted on time.

How are medical treatment costs reimbursed?

You pay for the treatment upfront. After your surgery, we help you submit a claim to the HSE. You’ll be reimbursed up to the cost of equivalent treatment in Ireland. We provide full admin support to make this process smooth. We ensure that our all inclusive cost is within the limits established by the HSE.