South Kent Coast NHS clinical commissioning group (CCG) is to sign a contract allowing two France-based healthcare providers to treat patients across the Channel.
The CCG received applications from both the UK and France to provide treatments including general surgery, gynaecology, cataract surgery, pain management and orthopaedics.
Patients will be able to choose to be treated in France if they require treatment following discussion with their GP.
While the NHS will pay for medical treatment, travel and incidental costs will be funded by patients.
NHS patients can opt to be treated by private providers under contract with the NHS, a third of contracts for clinical services awarded between April 2013 when the health and social care act began and December 2014 were awarded to private providers.
Hazel Carpenter, the accountable officer at NHS South Kent Coast Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "Two French providers applied as well as a number of English ones.
"We carried out a careful assessment of the services they offer and are visiting the sites.
"The two French providers, among others, fulfilled our criteria and we expect to finalise a contract with them.
Carpenter added: "It is purely a matter of choice and we will be very interested to see how many people take it up and what feedback they give us."
Further reading:
Call for £9bn NHS transformation fund to make savings
Summer Budget 2015: 'Our priority is the NHS' - Osborne
NHS changes could see cashplans expand - Simplyhealth
