01
Living in Ireland Applicants must be resident in Ireland How the scheme works
ESAIS is a pre-approved HSE funding route
ESAIS is different from schemes where a patient arranges treatment first and applies for reimbursement afterwards. The patient and their consultant gynaecologist must complete the application process, and the HSE must approve it before any appointment, surgery or travel is booked.
Who can apply?
The main ESAIS eligibility conditions
Meeting one condition is not enough. Applicants must satisfy all of the HSE eligibility requirements, and the application must be completed with a qualifying consultant gynaecologist in Ireland. The next section explains each condition and the application process in more detail.
ESAIS eligibility requirements
Who can apply for the Endometriosis Surgery Abroad Interim Scheme?
ESAIS is not available to every patient seeking endometriosis treatment abroad. Before an application can be approved, all of the HSE eligibility conditions must be met.
Applicants must meet all of the eligibility conditions. Being on a waiting list alone does not automatically confirm
eligibility for ESAIS.
Consultant involvement
Who can complete the medical section of the application?
The clinical part of an ESAIS application cannot be completed by a GP or by the patient alone. It must be completed by an eligible consultant gynaecologist working in Ireland.
Application process
How to apply for ESAIS
The patient and consultant complete different parts of the application. No treatment or travel should be arranged until the HSE has confirmed approval.
01
Confirm the recommendation
Your consultant confirms that endometriosis surgery is recommended and that you meet the relevant clinical requirements.
02
Choose an approved centre
A suitable healthcare centre is selected from the current list of facilities approved by the HSE.
03
Complete the application
The patient completes their section. The consultant completes the medical section and prepares the referral letter.
04
Submit the documents
The completed form and supporting referral documentation are submitted to the HSE for consideration.
05
Wait for the decision
Do not book an appointment, surgery or travel while the application is being reviewed.
06
Receive written approval
Only after written approval is issued should the overseas appointment, operation and travel be arranged.
07
Arrange treatment abroad
The approved centre can then arrange the pre-operative appointment, surgery and hospital care.
08
Return to care in Ireland
After surgery, your ongoing care and follow-up return to your consultant gynaecologist in Ireland.
Costs covered by ESAIS
What does the Endometriosis Surgery Abroad Interim Scheme pay for?
Once an application has been approved, ESAIS can cover the principal medical care connected with one endometriosis operation abroad. It also provides limited assistance with basic travel costs.
If more than one operation is required on different dates, a separate ESAIS application is required for each operation.
Travel under the scheme
Basic air or sea fares may be repaid
ESAIS covers basic return air or sea travel for the approved pre-operative appointment and the endometriosis operation. The patient normally claims this cost after returning to Ireland.
How medical bills are paid
Payment arrangements depend on the approved centre
The healthcare payment process is not identical at every ESAIS centre. Applicants should check how payment works before selecting a hospital and before submitting the application.
Before applying, contact the ESAIS team to confirm how healthcare costs are handled at the centre you are considering.
Approved treatment centres
Where can ESAIS surgery take place?
The operation must take place at a centre included on the current HSE-approved list. The list contains numerous specialist centres in Northern Ireland and Great Britain, together with selected facilities in several other European countries.
Northern Ireland and Great Britain
The HSE list includes many accredited endometriosis centres across Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.
Austria
Approved centres are listed in Innsbruck and Vienna.
Czech Republic
The current list includes centres in Brno and Prague.
France
An approved specialist centre is listed in Bordeaux.
Germany
The HSE list includes a range of accredited centres in Germany.
The Netherlands
The current list includes a specialist provider in The Hague.
Romania
Approved centres are listed in Cluj-Napoca, Bucharest and Timișoara.
Switzerland
The list includes approved centres in several Swiss cities.
The approved centres list may be amended by the HSE. Always check the current official list before completing the application.
Clinics outside the ESAIS list
Poland is not currently included on the ESAIS approved list
At present, the HSE ESAIS list does not include a healthcare centre in Poland. This means ESAIS cannot automatically be used to arrange endometriosis surgery at a private Polish clinic.
Submitting the ESAIS application
How to send your completed application
Before the application can be submitted, your consultant gynaecologist must return the completed form to you and provide a copy of the referral letter for endometriosis surgery abroad.
Application decision
When will the HSE make a decision?
The HSE states that it reviews ESAIS applications and aims to make a decision within 15 working days, which is approximately three weeks.
The 15-working-day timeframe applies to complete applications. If information is missing, the HSE may return the form and ask
for further details before making a decision.
Avoiding delays
What happens if the application is incomplete?
An incomplete form cannot be fully assessed. The HSE may return the application and ask the patient or consultant for additional information.
After approval
What can you arrange once ESAIS is approved?
The approval letter explains the next steps. Only after approval should the patient contact the chosen healthcare centre and begin making treatment and travel arrangements.
If the application is refused
Can an ESAIS decision be appealed?
ESAIS decisions are included within the HSE National Appeals Service. The decision letter should explain the reasons for the outcome and the available appeal process.
Official help and advice
Contact the ESAIS team before applying
The HSE advises patients to contact the scheme before applying, particularly when they need clarification about eligibility, approved centres or payment arrangements.
@
Questions about ESAIS can be sent directly to the HSE scheme team.
endometriosisabroad@hse.ie ☎
Telephone
Contact HSE Live for general assistance or to request information by post.
1800 700 700 01 240 8787
i
Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 8am to 8pm
Saturday: 9am to 5pm
Sunday: closed
Frequently asked questions
ESAIS application and approval
Answers to common questions about submitting the application, receiving a decision and arranging treatment abroad.
How long does an ESAIS decision take?
The HSE states that it aims to decide complete applications within
15 working days, approximately three weeks. Missing information
may delay the process.
Will the HSE tell me the decision by phone?
No. The decision is issued in writing to both the patient and
the consultant gynaecologist.
What happens if information is missing?
The HSE may return the application and request further information.
The decision period may therefore take longer than 15 working days.
When can I contact the overseas centre?
You should wait until the HSE issues written approval before
arranging the pre-operative appointment or surgery.
When should I book flights or a ferry?
First wait for written HSE approval. Then arrange the pre-operative
appointment and surgery with the approved centre. Book travel only
after the treatment dates have been confirmed.
Can I appeal an unsuccessful ESAIS application?
Yes. ESAIS is covered by the HSE National Appeals Service.
The general appeal deadline for this scheme is three months
from the date of the decision letter.
Does MedTrip Poland process ESAIS applications?
No. This page provides general information about the HSE scheme.
ESAIS applications are completed by the patient and an eligible
consultant gynaecologist in Ireland and are submitted directly
to the HSE.
This page provides general information and is not an official HSE publication or confirmation of eligibility. ESAIS applications, funding decisions and appeals are handled by the HSE. Always verify the current rules, contact details and approved centres directly with the HSE before applying.
PRIVATE TREATMENT IN POLAND
Considering treatment in Poland instead?
If travelling to one of the hospitals participating in the Surgery Abroad Interim Scheme is not the right option for you, private treatment in Poland may also be worth considering. We work with an experienced private clinic that also specialises in the surgical treatment of endometriosis.
Complete the enquiry form below
Tell us briefly about your diagnosis and whether you already have a referral, MRI scan, ultrasound report or other medical records. We will let you know what information the clinic may need, the expected waiting time and whether treatment in Poland may qualify for reimbursement under the HSE Cross-Border Directive.
