NHS patients across England could soon be offered the choice of faster treatment overseas.

It follows an independent study into a government pilot scheme, in which 190 patients underwent surgery in France and Germany earlier this year.

A report by York Health Economics Consortium has given the thumbs up to the scheme and suggested it will be popular with patients if extended.

Our preference is to increase NHS capacity in this country

Department of Health spokesman

However, the Department of Health moved to play down reports that thousands of patients could be heading overseas.

A spokesman said the scheme was one of a number of different options for reducing NHS waiting times.

Happy patients

But the report revealed that four out of five patients sent abroad were "very satisfied" with their experience.

Just three out of the 190 patients said their experience was unsatisfactory.

The report states: "Almost 80% of both samples were very satisfied with their experience.

"No patients ranked their treatment as very unsatisfactory and only three patients that were sent to France found the encounter unsatisfactory."

Overall, patients said the scheme should be extended across the NHS although they did recommend a number of improvements.

These include better travel arrangements, access to interpreters and more comprehensive follow-up care in England.

But the report adds: "Generally, patients were eager to have the treatment by participating in the Overseas Patients Scheme, rather than wait longer for the treatment in England.

"Patients were satisfied with every aspect of the process from first contact to coming home. Indeed a number of patients remarked that they hoped to return to these hospitals for further treatment."

NHS opposition

However, the report confirms that there was much opposition to the scheme within the NHS both from doctors and managers.

It states: "There were problems with follow-up clinics and perhaps the method of implementation alienated people."

The authors called on officials to ensure NHS staff are more involved in the scheme if it is extended to cover more patients.

The Department of Health said the report showed patients involved in the pilot had "a very positive experience".

A spokesman said: "The report highlights some areas for improvement for the NHS when patients travel to other European countries for treatment. This is useful and will be looked at carefully as we complete our guidance for the NHS.

But he added: "Treatment for patients in the European Economic Area is one of the options open to NHS bodies seeking to reduce waiting times for patients.

"However, our preference is to increase NHS capacity in this country by investing in the NHS and bringing spare capacity from other health systems to the patients rather than the other way around, for example by bringing over clinical teams to work in NHS hospitals."