“we already carry an EHIC card (Or should) if we are travelling in Europe, when the boot's on the other foot.... “
The difference is, box tops, that when you pitch up to a hospital abroad the first thing they ask for (before they take your pulse) is your EHIC, credit card or medical insurance policy details. In fact some countries will not allow you entry unless you can prove you have medical insurance. Here it is somewhat different. NHS establishments seem to have no facilities to charge patients.
“There is no credible evidence that large numbers of Bulgarians and Romanians will be coming to Britain.”
Quite true, ichkeria. But there is even less credible evidence to suggest that they will not. However, in view of the “Polish” experience (estimate 13,000, actual >500,000) and the fact that the government is “reluctant” to publish any forecasts, I’m inclined to believe that quite a few new arrivals will make their way here.
“Health Tourism” is and has been a problem for years and the NHS seems unwilling or unable to address it. It will only get worse. As with most other things the Prime Minister talks a good talk and it remains to be seen whether the measures he suggests will be taken and, even more important, whether they will be effective.
It does intrigue me that people many people seem perfectly OK to see the NHS used by anybody who arrives here regardless of how much they have or are likely to pay towards its funding. I wonder how many would be similarly impressed if their car insurers covered the claims of motorists who had not paid their premiums?
Still no matter. If, as Jake suggests, it cost the country “only” £200m a year we’ve no need to worry. So long as the incomers get all the attention they need who cares if a few older people go blind waiting for retina or cataract surgery or have to exhaust their life savings paying for their healthcare in the meantime? Why worry if a few A&E departments close down risking lives? We can blame it all on the Daily Mail.