Foreign visitors to pay for NHS under government plans

The government has unveiled new proposals which will see more people and overseas visitors charged for using the NHS.

The proposals outlined in a consultation document include changes to the regulations that allow the NHS to charge patients who are not resident in this country and therefore not eligible for free treatment.

The proposed changes were developed following a Department of Health review of how NHS Trusts are applying the regulations. This review process "found loopholes" in the regulations that the government now seeks to close.

Health Minister John Hutton said: "The NHS is there to provide a free at the point of use service to people who live here, not those who don't. We fully share the public's concern over any suggestion or evidence of abuse. That is why we will tighten the current rules for deciding who qualifies for free treatment under the NHS. But in proposing these changes we'll make sure that we continue to meet our international obligations in full."

Some of the abuses the government hope to stop include: failed asylum seekers and others with no legal right to be in the country receiving treatment free of charge; dependants of someone who is exempt from charges visiting the country briefly just to obtain free treatment; and business travellers to the UK and their dependants receiving free treatment if they fall ill or are injured on a trip to the UK.

Responding to proposals, the BMA's Head of Science and Ethics, Dr Vivienne Nathanson said: "It is important that any government measures to clamp down on health tourism ensure that emergency life-threatening interventions can continue to take place. It is also vital that doctors are able to treat people who have transmissible illnesses, including TB."

The BMA said that it was "particularly concerned" about the health of failed asylum seekers awaiting deportation.

"These people have no access to money and it would be totally unjustifiable to leave them suffering from chronic illnesses, including mental health problems, for unspecified periods of time," Dr Nathanson said.

(GMcG)