Ms Yvonne Watts went abroad to France because the UK had waiting lists for a hip replacement and applied for reimbursement.

She claimed this infringed her right to free movement under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union article 56, and freedom to receive services.

The European Court of Justice, Grand Chamber, held article 56 applied when a patient receives medical services in a hospital environment for consideration.

It was legitimate to aim to ensure sufficient and permanent access to a range of high quality hospital treatments in a State if proportionate.

The Court engaged in a detailed review of how the NHS treated waiting lists to manage health care provision.