Committee publication · Correspondence · 4 June 2026
Correspondence from the Department of Health and Social Care, UK Government, on cross-border healthcare, dated 7 April 2026
From: Welsh Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Cross-border healthcare arrangements between England and Wales
Summary
Dr Zubir Ahmed, UK Health Minister, responds to the Welsh Affairs Committee's inquiry on cross-border healthcare between England and Wales. The government affirms commitment to ensuring patients on both sides of the border access timely NHS care, detailing ongoing joint work with Welsh Government on data sharing, billing arrangements, specialist service access, complaint handling, and governance through the NHS Cross Border Network.
Key findings
- NHS England and NHS Wales are collaborating on digital interoperability, including shared care records and FHIR-based messaging standards, with ambition for a single patient record.
- Welsh commissioners will pay English tariff prices for Welsh patients treated in England; local agreements exist for English patients treated in Wales, with potential for strengthened guidance.
- NHS England commissions highly specialised services for devolved nations; UK-wide Rare Disease Collaborative Networks support cross-border expertise-sharing.
- Regulations amended (SI 525, May 2023) enable smoother movement of medical, dental, and ophthalmic practitioners between devolved nations and England; government supports exploring a single UK performers list.
- NHS Cross Border Network meets regularly chaired by NHS England with participation from Welsh Government, integrated care boards, and local health boards to address cross-border policy and operational issues.
Tone
SupportiveTopics
Key actors
Dr Zubir Ahmed, Ruth Jones MP, Minister Smyth, NHS England, NHS Wales, Welsh Government, Department of Health and Social Care
Notable line
“… the Government is committed to ensuring that all patients regardless of which side of the border they live on can access timely, high-quality NHS care …”
Key Quotes
“… the Government is committed to ensuring that all patients regardless of which side of the border they live on can access timely, high-quality NHS care, as per our commitments in the Statement of Values and Principles for cross-border healthcare.”
“NHS England is working with NHS Wales to improve interoperability through shared care records and technical collaboration on FHIR-based messaging standards, with a long-term ambition for a single patient record.”
“In many areas along the border, NHS staff in England and Wales work closely together to deliver joined-up care.”
“… we remain committed to existing cross-border arrangements, including referral routes, reimbursement processes, and service agreements, which will remain in force as we transition into the new organisation.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗