I'm aware of the NI situation. (I did my elective in Belfast when I qualified.)

Awful, truly awful. There are many local laws in Northern Ireland that are a stain on The UK. The answer? I genuinely don't know, but as a doctor, and knowing NHS care there requires financial support from Westminster, I have signed two petitions from BMA to Dept of Health challenging funding of NHS care that does not follow the rules. (There are a few cutting edge procedures that aren't available as well, not through cost or expertise but through political decision, certain stem cell work and variations in assessing mental capacity.)

Read my first post to this thread.