A handful of health authorities have been given the go-ahead to send patients to other EU countries for treatment.

This means the first patients could be on their way before the end of the year.

Portsmouth, East Kent and West Sussex/East Surrey will make sure patients are getting good treatment - and the health service is getting value for money.

The scheme was introduced by the Department of Health in the wake of a European Court judgement which widens the number of people who are eligible for treatment abroad to those who have suffered "undue delay" in their home country.

It will allow people who have waited long periods for operations take advantage of spare capacity in other countries.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn has said that health authorities and primary care trusts should use the system only as a "last resort".

On Monday he said: "The government's top priority is to ensure patients receive high quality treatment when they need it.

"Health authorities and primary care trusts when commissioning services from other European countries have to ensure the highest clinical standards and best value for the NHS.

"Following the test-runs, robust guidance will be sent out to the service later this year."

Currently, just over 1,000 people take advantage of "reciprocal arrangements" under the E112 scheme to get treatments which are unavailable to them at home.

Initially, patients in the health authority areas waiting for "low-risk" procedures such as cataract surgery or joint replacement may be eligible to make the trip.

Patients will have to undergo a full clinical assessment to make sure that the planned treatment abroad "meets their needs".

It is likely that areas in the south of England are most likely to potentially benefit from the European Court of Justice ruling, as these are the areas which have the longest waiting lists for certain types of surgery.

The authorities in Scotland and Wales have not yet announced their response to the ruling.