THE long-running debate over cross-border healthcare was brought to the surface again last Thursday (8th January) as part of an inquiry chaired by Monmouthshire MP David Davies.

The Welsh Affairs Committee met in Cardiff's Senedd to hear evidence from health experts as well as Mark Drakeford AM, Minister for Health and Social Services; and Dr Andrew Goodall, Chief Executive, NHS Wales.

The inquiry was announced last July as the committee began appealing for members of the public to submit evidence to the panel. Evidence has been given at regular meetings since mid-December and will soon draw to a close. The report into the inquiry's findings is expected in the coming weeks.

The aim of the inquiry is to examine how the NHS is working for patients who rely on healthcare facilities on both sides of the England/ Wales border. It also looks into what impact different policies in England and Wales have on patients, as well as those working in medicine.

Speaking when the inquiry was announced, Mr Davies said: "Many people are only just beginning to realise that the health service is no longer national,

"Instead, we have regional systems in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland where there are huge differences in what is on offer. For example, we get free prescriptions in Wales but there is no access to a Cancer Drugs Fund and target waiting times are longer.

"Local people who were receiving treatment in English hospitals are no longer allowed to do so except in exceptional clinical circumstances.

"These issues are a cause of grave concern, especially in border counties like Monmouthshire, and we want to hear from those affected."

The committee heard from two panels of witnesses last Thursday. In the first panel, representatives from the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee were asked how they help Welsh patients access specialised services in England.

The second panel features Mark Drakeford AM and Dr Andrew Goodall. The committee asked them what the Welsh Government and NHS Wales are doing to make cross-border healthcare easier and more effective for patients.

Since the committee last examined this issue in 2009, there has been increasing divergence between the healthcare systems of England and Wales, which has implications for patients in border areas who rely on healthcare facilities on the other side of the border.

In 2014 the Beacon highlighted cases across the county in which the Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire borders were seen as an obstacle in obtaining NHS care.

Keep an eye on the Beacon as the inquiry's results are published in the coming weeks.