Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to Answer of 20th February 2026 to Question 109501, for what reason some NHS overseas cost recovery claims take up to four years to settle.

Deadlines for settling claims between the United Kingdom and member states are set out in the implementing provisions of the UK’s agreements with the European Union, the European Economic Area, and with European Free Trade Association states, namely Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. These agreements include common rules for settling claims between states which have Social Security Coordination agreements. The relevant articles in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement are SSCI.47 to SSCI.54, and there are similar provisions in all relevant agreements. The use of common provisions and processing requirements facilitate operational delivery. Further information on the Trade and Cooperation Agreement is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ukeu-and-eaec-trade-and-cooperation-agreement-ts-no82021

Under article SSCI.52 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, states have 12 months from the end of the calendar half-year when claims were recorded in accounts to introduce a claim. There are then 36 months to resolve any disputes between the UK and the relevant member state. Agreements require that reimbursements are made as promptly as possible, but these deadlines reflect the complexity of some cases and the volume of claims processed.

Where agreement is not reached within this period, an independent committee provides a resolution process for any dispute between the UK and member states within the terms of the agreements. It is not possible to provide validated data relating to claims over four years as the status of these claims is continuously changing as they are settled, meet settlement deadlines, or go through the resolution process.