Cross-Border Care · 7 min read
NIPHS Explained: Using the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme at JACE
How the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NIPHS) works for Republic of Ireland patients treated at JACE Private Hospital: eligibility, GP referral, paying in sterling, HSE reimbursement, waiting times and follow-up.
What NIPHS is
The Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NIPHS) is run by the HSE. It allows people who are ordinarily resident in the Republic of Ireland to have planned treatment in a private hospital in Northern Ireland and claim back the cost from the HSE, up to the amount the same treatment would cost in the Irish public system. It replaced the EU Cross-Border Directive route for Northern Ireland after Brexit.
Who can use it
You need to live in the Republic of Ireland and be entitled to public healthcare there. The treatment must be one that is available in the Irish public system, and you need a referral from your GP or consultant in the Republic. At JACE the specialties most often used under the scheme are endoscopy, urology, varicose vein treatment, hand and wrist surgery, general surgery, steroid injections and minor plastic surgery.
Step 1: speak to your GP
Your GP confirms that a referral is appropriate and writes a referral letter to the consultant at JACE Private Hospital. The letter is the key document for the scheme, so ask your GP to include your symptoms, history and the treatment being requested. If your treatment would involve an overnight stay you may need prior approval from the HSE before you travel, so check the HSE guidance early.
Step 2: send your referral to JACE
Send the referral to our booking team or start an enquiry online. We review it, tell you whether the pathway looks suitable, and offer a consultation date. We aim to reply to cross-border enquiries the same working day. Consultations can be arranged in Greysteel or, for some pathways, in Letterkenny.
Step 3: your consultation and treatment
You meet your named consultant, who confirms the diagnosis and the treatment plan. Procedures take place at JACE Private Hospital in Greysteel, just across the border from Donegal. Typical procedure waits are around four to six weeks after consultation, depending on the specialty. The same consultant looks after you from assessment through to follow-up.
Step 4: paying and claiming back
Under NIPHS you pay the hospital directly, then claim reimbursement from the HSE. JACE prices are in pounds sterling; if you pay by card your bank converts the amount to euro. Keep every invoice and proof of payment. The HSE reimburses up to its published rate for the equivalent public treatment in Ireland, so if the private price is higher you cover the difference. Our team can explain the likely figures before you commit, but the HSE is the final authority on what is reimbursed.
Follow-up and aftercare
Follow-up is with the consultant who treated you. Many procedures include a telephone review, and face-to-face reviews can be arranged in Greysteel or Letterkenny where that pathway is available. If anything is needed urgently once you are home, contact the hospital first and we will advise you, and keep your own GP informed so your records in the Republic are up to date.
Self-funding is always an option
If you are not eligible for NIPHS, do not want to wait for approval, or want a treatment that is not covered, you can simply book as a self-funded patient. You do not need an Irish GP referral for the private route, and every price is published on our pricing page.
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