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Ophthalmology · Cross-Border Care
Cross Border Patients
Faster private cataract surgery for patients in the Republic of Ireland
On a waiting list for cataract surgery and living in Ireland? You can access faster treatment just across the border in Northern Ireland through the NI Planned Healthcare Scheme (formerly the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive). We help you meet the eligibility criteria and secure your reimbursement from the Health Service Executive (HSE) — every step of the way.
Around €1,560HSE reimbursement*
~1 hourfrom Dublin Airport
No waiting listneeded to qualify
Full supportwith your HSE claim
The NI Planned Healthcare Scheme
Cataract surgery is one of the most common treatments for patients travelling from the Republic of Ireland. You access it much as you would public healthcare at home: the care must be planned, and you’ll need a valid GP referral. You pay for your treatment, then apply to the HSE for reimbursement towards the cost.
You may be eligible if…
✓You're resident in Ireland and entitled to public healthcare
✓You have a valid referral from a GP or a public-capacity consultant
✓Your treatment is planned in advance
✓You obtain prior authorisation where it's required
✓You do NOT need to be on a waiting list to qualify
Having private health insurance doesn’t exclude you from the scheme — but you can’t use private insurance to obtain your referral for healthcare abroad. Only a GP, or a consultant you’re attending in a public capacity, can refer you.
How reimbursement works
Step 1Pay for your treatmentYou pay Solasta Healthcare for your cataract surgery, with clear, fair pricing and payment options explained upfront.
Step 2Submit your claimYou and our Cross-Border Healthcare Team complete the HSE invoice form and submit it with your invoice and receipt — we handle the heavy lifting.
Step 3Receive your reimbursementThe HSE reimburses you towards the cost. Our team liaises with the HSE to keep things moving quickly and smoothly.
6 easy steps to access treatment
1Contact Solasta Healthcare — a Patient Care Coordinator guides you through the whole cross-border process
2You're assigned a specific consultant and given a date, time and location for your consultation
3Contact your GP or optician for a referral letter addressed to your Solasta Healthcare consultant
4Attend your appointment, where all the paperwork is arranged and prepared for submission
5A surgery date is arranged with payment options — payment is settled 5 days before your admission date
6After surgery, invoices and proof of payment are submitted to the HSE for your reimbursement
Why choose Solasta for cataract surgery
Surgical expertise
A truly personal service
State-of-the-art ophthalmology clinic
Advanced diagnostics
Premium lenses
Simple, fair, affordable pricing
Continuity of care
Just 1 hour from Dublin Airport
Expertise, technology and a personal touch
Surgical expertise
Expert surgeons using state-of-the-art technology and a full range of premium lenses, optimised for the best possible outcome. You have full access to your surgeon — a pre-operative consultation to plan your care and post-operative reviews at every stage of recovery.
About cataract surgery ›Lens choice & technology
We offer the full range of commercially available premium intra-ocular lenses, matched to you for safety, comfort and the best refractive result. Our Alcon CENTURION and Verion image-guided systems plan and guide your surgery in real time for outstanding accuracy.
Explore lens options ›A truly personal service
A high staff-to-patient ratio means we spend as much time as you need before surgery, so you feel safe, comfortable and fully informed. It's natural to feel nervous, and our team is on hand before, during and after to support you.
Meet our people ›Getting here from the Republic
Solasta Healthcare
Unit 70, The Boulevard,
Cascum Road, Banbridge,
BT32 4LF
Cascum Road, Banbridge,
BT32 4LF
From Dublin~1 hour via M1 / A1 (Dublin Airport ~1 hour)
Parking2,700+ free spaces, plus Blue Badge bays & step-free access
From Belfast (A1)
Follow the A1 from Belfast towards Newry and take the exit towards Banbridge / A26. Keep left, follow the signs for Bridgewater Park and merge onto Cascum Link. Go through one roundabout and The Boulevard will be on your right. Solasta Healthcare is at Unit 70 on the right-hand side of the car park.
From Dublin (M1 / A1)
Follow signs for Belfast and continue on the M1. At Newry, continue on the A1 and after around 25 km take the A26 exit towards Banbridge. Keep left, follow the signs for Bridgewater Park and merge onto Cascum Link. Go through one roundabout and The Boulevard will be on your right. Solasta Healthcare is at Unit 70 on the right-hand side.
More on getting here and parking on our location page.
Cross-border reimbursement
Around €1,560*
towards your full cataract pathway
Lens procedure €1,171
Pre-op consultation €194
Post-op consultation €194
*Your reimbursement covers more than the operation itself. Under the HSE day-case rates, the cataract (lens) procedure is reimbursed at €1,171, plus a pre-operative and a post-operative consultation at €194 each — together making up the figure above. Amounts are set by the HSE and may change; our Cross-Border Healthcare Team will help you confirm the current figures and complete your claim. See the full breakdown in our reimbursement guide below.
Cross-border healthcare information
Do I qualify for the NI Planned Healthcare Scheme?
The scheme is available to Irish residents who qualify for public healthcare. Having private health insurance doesn't exclude you — but you can't use private insurance to access your referral for healthcare abroad. Only a GP, or a consultant you're attending in a public capacity, can refer you. You don't need to be on a waiting list to be eligible.
Do I need to be on a waiting list?
No. The NI Planned Healthcare Scheme is open to anyone who would be entitled to treatment in an Irish public hospital — you don't need to be on a waiting list to apply. Contact us and we'll talk you through it.
How do I apply for cross-border treatment?
It's straightforward: you must be referred to the health service abroad, obtain prior authorisation if it's required for your treatment, and then apply for a refund of your costs. Our Patient Care Coordinators guide you through each step.
How do I claim reimbursement?
To get a refund of the costs you pay, you and our Cross-Border Healthcare Team complete the HSE invoice form and submit it with your Solasta Healthcare invoice and receipt. The refund is made to the patient, and our team liaises with the HSE to keep it efficient.
What aftercare is provided?
This depends on your treatment — you'll be advised on the appropriate aftercare programme, with a full suite of post-operative reviews to monitor your recovery and visual outcome.
How do I contact Solasta Healthcare?
Email info@solastahealthcare.com, or call NI 028 40 648 486 / ROI +353 1906 1950. Our Patient Care Coordinators will be delighted to help you book your initial consultation or answer any questions.
HSE — National Contact Point
Cross-Border Healthcare Directive Department, HSE, St Canice's Hospital, Dublin Road, Kilkenny.
General enquiries: 056 778 4546 / 056 778 4547
Get off the waiting list today
Call our Cross-Border Healthcare Team and we'll talk you through everything involved — and get your treatment started.
Book a consultation Contact the cross-border teamThis page provides general information about the NI Planned Healthcare Scheme and is not legal, financial or medical advice. Eligibility and reimbursement are determined by the HSE and may change — please confirm current criteria and amounts with the HSE. Treatment suitability is confirmed following a consultant assessment.