The Cost Of Our Multinational Health Service.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5617111/Health-tourists-NHS-hospitals-139MILLION.html

[whiskeryron]

We do not stop treating the sick who need our help. Whilst in hospital can we store their day clothes until they are better & then charge them before they leave ?

[webbo3]

\\We do not stop treating the sick who need our help\\

What about these.?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10540881/The-300-maternity-tourists.html


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2530597/Pregnant-foreigners-fly-Britain-receive-free-maternal-healthcare-NHS.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4176406/Meet-Nigerian-cost-500-000-IVF-triplets.html

[tiggerblue10]

I thought the Immigration Health Surcharge was introduced as an attempt to recoup this. Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

[Voltage]

Will never understand this problem..if I go abroad I need medical insurance. ..any Tom dick or harry comes here and gets free NHS service..about time it was changed if you haven't a N.I number you should pay your medical expenses!

[jourdain2]

You don't just walk into a hospital and see a doctor straight away. You go to reception/admin. . At that point you should simply be asked how you intend to pay for your treatment. If you have an N.I. number you give it - or other proof that you are covered in the UK.

I've said this so often! In France my visiting stepson had a heart-attack; airlifted to Poitiers hospital where payment was more-or-less the first question asked. He had insurance, no problem. If he had not had insurance then he would have been given a bill and been expected to settle it on discharge. If he didn't pay the bill, his passport would have been retained and the gendarmes called.

It's not beyond the wit of man.

[bhg481]

I think the problem is that we're civilised, unlike some other countries, and realise that it's important to look after people in emergencies. We also have an aversion to carrying identification to prove that we've a right to certain services.

[murraymints]

years back I needed hospital treatment in San Diego.... first question before even asking about my problem was "how will you be paying ?" and had I not been able to then there would have been no treatment offered...should be the same here !!

[SIRandyraven]

Should we not be deducting these uncollected monies from foreign aid budget ?

[cassa333]

Weak willed NHS has delusions of grandeur.

They think they are the worlds health care giver and don't bother to collect money owed by those with sudden and legitimate health concerns let alone health tourists.

It is not beyond the wit of any organisation this big to have a payment collection department. In theory it should pay for itself because any bill not paid then and there would incur a surcharge. In any case it would get back far far more than the department costs.

[Togo]

Until we weed out the NHS "officials" from the system who treat our health care organisation as their own fiefdom and political lever, we will never see any common sense improvement. They deliberately squander the budget to maintain pressure upon the government of the day, all dressed up in a pseudo "caring" stance. It is nothing short of criminal and is certainly calculated.

[cassa333]

I do rather agree with you there Togo.