Faster Access
Private consultations and treatment dates may be available sooner than the appointment offered through your local public pathway.
Faster Treatment Options for Patients in Ireland
How to Skip the HSE Waiting List
Long waiting times do not always mean that you must postpone treatment indefinitely. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to access private treatment abroad and apply for HSE reimbursement under an approved healthcare scheme.
Eligibility depends on the treatment required, the correct public referral pathway and the individual requirements of the relevant HSE scheme. Reimbursement is never automatic and is decided solely by the HSE.
Treatment Abroad A Faster Route May Be Available
Explore private healthcare in Poland with personal support before, during and after treatment.
Treatment in Poland
Access carefully selected private hospitals, clinics and consultant specialists in another EU country.
Possible HSE Reimbursement
Eligible patients may be able to reclaim some or all of the qualifying medical treatment cost.
Personal Coordination
MedTrip Poland helps organise consultations, treatment dates, communication and the practical stages of your journey.
Hospital Waiting Times in Ireland
Why Are Patients Looking for Alternatives to HSE Waiting Lists?
Ireland’s public hospitals continue to provide a very high volume of care, but demand for consultations, investigations and planned procedures remains substantial.
Although progress has been reported in reducing some of the longest waiting times, many patients still face months of uncertainty before receiving a specialist appointment or scheduled treatment.
943,011 patients were reported on some form of public hospital waiting list
in February 2026.
114,219 patients were waiting for inpatient or day-case treatment in
February 2026.
The figures include different types of healthcare and do not represent one single queue for surgery. Waiting periods vary according to the hospital, specialty, procedure and clinical priority.
Read our full Irish hospital waiting-list overview Tell Us What Treatment You Need
Find Out What May Be Available in Poland
Tell us which consultation, investigation or procedure you require. We will review your enquiry, contact a suitable clinic where appropriate and explain the possible next step.
No-obligation enquiry Personal patient support Information about HSE reimbursement Private treatment options in Poland
Submitting an enquiry does not create an obligation to proceed. Treatment suitability must be confirmed by the treating clinician, and HSE reimbursement cannot be guaranteed.
Treatment Abroad and HSE Reimbursement
How the Cross-Border Treatment Process Works
The process is manageable when each stage is completed in the correct order. The exact requirements depend on the treatment you need and whether it is provided as outpatient, day-case or inpatient care.
01
Tell Us What Treatment You Need
Send us a short description of your condition, the procedure or consultation you require and any relevant medical documents you already have. We can then check which partner clinic may be suitable.
02
Confirm the Referral Pathway
Eligible care must be available to public patients in Ireland, and a referral from a GP or consultant is normally required. The correct documentation should be arranged before the relevant healthcare begins.
03
Complete Your Treatment in Poland
Once medically qualified, you attend the selected clinic or hospital in Poland and pay the healthcare provider directly. We remain available to help coordinate appointments and practical arrangements.
04
Apply to the HSE for Reimbursement
After treatment, you submit the required application, medical documentation and proof of payment to the HSE. The HSE then assesses the claim and determines the eligible reimbursement amount.
How Much Can the HSE Reimburse?
The amount available depends on the specific healthcare received and the corresponding reimbursement rate used by the HSE.
You cannot receive more than you actually paid for the qualifying medical care. Where the treatment cost in Poland is below the relevant HSE limit, an eligible patient may sometimes reclaim the full medical treatment cost.
If the cost abroad is higher than the amount approved by the HSE, the patient remains responsible for the difference.
Important Financial Points
- You normally pay the clinic or hospital directly before applying to the HSE.
- Flights, accommodation and translation costs are not normally covered under the Cross Border Directive.
- The reimbursement amount depends on the procedure and documentation submitted.
- The final reimbursement decision always rests with the HSE.
- Prior notification can provide an indication of eligibility and the possible reimbursement amount before inpatient or day-case treatment.
General Eligibility Principles
Could You Qualify for HSE Reimbursement?
Every case is assessed individually, but several basic conditions usually need to be met before treatment abroad can qualify.
The Treatment Is Publicly Available in Ireland
The healthcare must be a type of treatment or service that patients can access through Ireland’s public health system.
You Follow the Correct Referral Route
A valid referral from a GP or consultant is normally required. The referral must match the healthcare you intend to receive abroad.
The Documents Are in Place Before Treatment
You should confirm the applicable requirements before booking the consultation or procedure, particularly for hospital and day-case care.
You may not need to have already waited for many months. However, being on a waiting list does not by itself guarantee eligibility. Your public-patient entitlement, referral and proposed treatment must satisfy the relevant HSE requirements.
Treatments in Poland
Procedures and Specialist Care We Can Help Arrange
The options below are only a selection of the treatments available through our partner clinics and hospitals in Poland.
Hernia Surgery
Private assessment and surgical treatment for selected umbilical, inguinal and other abdominal-wall hernias.
Explore hernia surgerySeptoplasty
Assessment and surgical treatment for a deviated nasal septum and associated breathing difficulties.
Explore septoplastyEndoscopic Sinus Surgery
Specialist ENT assessment and minimally invasive sinus surgery for suitable chronic sinus conditions.
Explore sinus surgeryAdenoid Removal
Private ENT assessment and adenoid surgery for children where clinically recommended by the treating specialist.
Explore adenoid removalGallbladder Removal
Consultation and laparoscopic gallbladder surgery for patients with symptomatic gallstones or other qualifying conditions.
Explore gallbladder surgeryOrthopaedics and Traumatology
Private consultations, imaging review and surgical or non-surgical treatment for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions.
Explore orthopaedic careBunion Surgery
Orthopaedic assessment and corrective surgery for painful bunions where conservative treatment has not provided sufficient relief.
Explore bunion surgeryFoam Sclerotherapy
Specialist vascular assessment and minimally invasive treatment for selected varicose veins and venous conditions.
Explore foam sclerotherapyRezūm Water Vapour Therapy
Minimally invasive urology treatment for suitable patients with symptoms caused by benign prostate enlargement.
Explore Rezūm therapySleep Apnoea Treatment
Specialist diagnostics and individually selected treatment options for obstructive sleep apnoea and related breathing problems.
Explore sleep apnoea carePlastic Surgery
Private consultations and selected reconstructive, functional and aesthetic procedures with experienced plastic surgeons.
Explore plastic surgeryOther Specialist Treatments
We work with consultant specialists across more than 30 medical fields and can check options for treatments not listed on this page.
Ask about another treatmentYour Treatment Is Not Listed?
This is only a small selection of the consultations, diagnostics and procedures that may be available. Tell us what you need and we will contact an appropriate clinic or specialist team in Poland.
Ask About Your Treatment
Why Patients Choose Poland
Private Healthcare Without an Indefinite Wait
Poland combines established private hospitals, experienced consultant specialists and access to treatment dates that may be available much sooner than through an extended public waiting-list pathway.
Faster Appointments
Consultations and procedures can often be arranged within a practical timeframe after medical qualification.
Experienced Specialists
Access private care from consultant specialists working across a wide range of medical and surgical fields.
Modern Private Clinics
Treatment is arranged through carefully selected hospitals and clinics with appropriate specialist facilities.
Accessible from Ireland
Regular direct flights connect Ireland with major Polish cities, making planned medical travel manageable.
English-Language Support
We help coordinate communication and confirm what English medical documentation is available.
Potential Cost Recovery
Eligible patients may be able to reclaim qualifying medical costs through the HSE Cross Border Directive.
Why MedTrip Poland
Support From Your First Enquiry to Your Return Home
Finding a clinic abroad is only one part of the process. Patients also need clear communication, realistic information and help coordinating the practical stages of treatment.
MedTrip Poland acts as your point of contact between Ireland and the selected healthcare provider in Poland.
We are not the treating medical provider and we cannot make clinical or HSE reimbursement decisions. Our role is to help make the process clearer and easier to organise.
How We Can Help
Review your initial enquiry and relevant medical information
Identify and contact a suitable partner clinic or specialist
Arrange private consultations and available treatment dates
Explain the usual referral and reimbursement documentation
Coordinate communication with the clinic in English
Confirm what English medical documentation can be provided
Help organise airport transfers and recommend accommodation if needed
Remain available before treatment, during your stay and after you return
Explore Your Options
You May Not Have to Keep Waiting
Tell us what treatment you need and what medical information you already have. We will check whether a suitable private option may be available through one of our partner clinics in Poland.
Check Your Treatment OptionsThere is no obligation to proceed. Medical suitability must be confirmed by the treating specialist, and reimbursement decisions are made solely by the HSE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions Patients Often Ask
Here are clear answers to some of the most common questions about accessing treatment abroad and applying for HSE reimbursement.
Do I have to be on an HSE waiting list?
Not necessarily. The treatment must be available through Ireland’s public healthcare system, and you must follow the correct public referral pathway. The exact requirements depend on the healthcare you need.
Can I receive treatment in Poland?
Yes. Poland is an EU member state, and qualifying healthcare received there may be eligible under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive. Medical suitability must first be confirmed by the treating clinic.
Do I pay the clinic before applying to the HSE?
Yes. Patients normally pay the Polish healthcare provider directly. After treatment, you submit the required documentation, receipts and reimbursement application to the HSE.
Can I receive 100% reimbursement?
In some cases, an eligible patient may recover the full qualifying medical cost when the price paid does not exceed the relevant HSE reimbursement amount. Approval is not automatic or guaranteed.
Are flights and accommodation reimbursed?
Travel and accommodation are normally not covered. Reimbursement generally applies only to qualifying medical care and cannot exceed the amount actually paid for that care.
How long does HSE reimbursement take?
The HSE aims to process complete applications within approximately 30 working days. It may take longer where documents are missing, further information is requested or application volumes are high.
Can MedTrip Poland guarantee reimbursement?
No. The final decision always rests with the HSE. We can explain the usual process, coordinate treatment and help you understand which medical documents may be required.
What if my treatment is not listed?
The website shows only a selection of available treatments. We work with consultant specialists across more than 30 medical fields, so contact us and we will check the available options.
Your Next Step
Find Out Whether Treatment in Poland Could Be Right for You
Tell us which consultation, investigation or procedure you need. We will check the available options and explain the practical next step. There is no obligation to proceed.
Check My Treatment Options Prefer to contact us directly?
contact@medtrippoland.ie
Treatment is subject to medical qualification by the treating specialist. Suitability, availability, final pricing and recovery guidance depend on the individual patient. Reimbursement under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive depends on the applicable HSE requirements and the HSE’s final decision.
