‘tourists’ costing nhs £15m a year

The health service has written off £75million over the past five years in bad debts, much owed by people who come to Britain for treatment they cannot afford in their own countries. They

most often seek maternity care and treatment for HIV, cancer and heart conditions – reducing the care available to UK residents in key fields. * WIN A LUXURY LONG WEEKEND FOR TWO IN CAIRO!!!

INCLUDES BA CLUB CLASS FLIGHTS, FIVE STAR ACCOMMODATION AND £1,000 SPENDING MONEY! * Fiona McEvoy, campaign manager of the Tax-Payers’ Alliance, said: “The Government needs to do more to

crack down on health tourists free-riding at our expense. It’s not the World Health Service, it’s the National Health Service.” Celia Grandison-Markey, of the Patients’ Association, said:

“While doctors have a duty to save lives they also have a responsibility to be economic in the way NHS funds are used.’’ Apart from EU residents and those from Switzerland, Norway, Iceland

and Liechtenstein, overseas visitors only qualify for free emergency care. However, NHS hospitals spend an estimated £35million a year treating them, of which nearly a third is never

recovered. Foreigners should show documents such as passports to prove they are entitled to NHS care but they do not always do so, and medics are reluctant to turn away sick people. A

growing number of hospitals ask for a deposit before treating patients they fear will not pay, but they often find they have been given false names. Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:

“The NHS is first and foremost for the benefit of people who live in this country. People who are not ordinarily resident here are not automatically entitled to access free NHS hospital

treatment. We have been clear that trusts must act on this guidance and recover any debts incurred.’’