Oh Dear!

[Sqad]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5002286/Pregnant-British-woman-hospital-nationality-row.html

If this had happened in the U.S of A and a British subject had been refused treatment in a U.S hospital, there would have been an AB outcry fiercely abusing the barbaric American health system.
Now it seem that the UK is finally waking up and "smelling the coffee."

[hereIam]

I'm all for stopping 'health tourism'.

[Prudie]

And it's because people throw their arms in horror at how could we treat someone in such a way that health tourism has worked in the past. If you want to stop it then this has to be done. What a fuss, we all get asked for proof of stuff all the time.

[Islay]

Because she thinks she’s special and entitled because she’s pregnant!

[Peter Pedant]

Oh yeah and from your gin palace in Malaga,
el thentro medical takes all comers does it ?
you know like the refugees and migrants from Ceuta etc ?
or is it a question of "pagar sin EHIC ? "

[oops a bitta forrin there - for those on AB who dont 'do' forrin languages, - " you must pay now eef you dont have an EHIC" ]

Even in your day Sqad you had to notify the authorities in various circumstances - comtagious diseases ( some) and was septic abortion notifiable? - anyway you wont be a stranger in real life to having to check things

Eighties - stabbings and shot guns injuries became notifiable.

Noughties - terrorism.

now you have to check nationality - used you go into a hospital without your passport when you were abroad ?

Banks - the rules are much stricter - because if they launder a mill - they may have to pay another mill ( not counting the naughty mill) to the govt as a fine

As a landlord I have to check the immigration status of a potential tenant. Sign of the times and no more.

Do you still read the journals ? In Texas according to the NEJM this week, 34 counties next the rio grande have NO obstetric cover whatsoever ( greengos y latinos ) - odd way of counting I agree - but the stat was as it is given.

[Sqad]

PP.
No idea what you are on about......although, the bits i could find relevant I probably agree with.......sozza.....who knows.

[jno]

that'll teach women to take their husband's name

[mikey4444]

Would this lady have been given this form if her husband was called Smith, or Jones ?

Myself and my family have been having quite a lot of NHS treatment over this last 12 months, and I can confirm that we have never had a letter of this kind.

[ummmm]

Probably not, Mikey. It was probably a computer that flagged the name. The chances are the people seeing her at her appointment would know she was from the UK.

[Prudie]

Because they've only just brought it in.

[mikey4444]

Perhaps its because its only just been brought in to England.

[webbo3]

Maybe she doesn't have an NHS number Mikey, as I said I ask EVERYONE, that comes to my desk, "have you been living in the uk for the last 12 months", whether Smith Jones or Mohamed, maybe they operate the same system, just because she is British doesn't she is entitled to use the NHS for free, she may have been living abroad for the last 12 months.



Dave.

[gness]

Mikey....I don't have a foreign name.....and I never get asked for ID at my local hospital...but...

As it was explained, very nicely, to me......I was attending a different hospital for the first time and where they had no idea who I was......
The letter following my request for an appointment contained the same instructions as this lady was given and didn't follow.

Surely you understand, Mikey...that had I not been entitled to NHS care but requested an appointment.....was given one with no questions asked I could have received costly NHS care which I wasn't entitled to and for which I should have paid if they hadn't checked when I presented at the hospital......
I could have just rocked up from New Zealand..... :-)

[mikey4444]

I think that being able to prove that you entitled to free NHS care is, in itself, a good idea.

But there is something I don't quite understand about this case. It seems that she has been pregnant for some time, and presumably was referred to Addenbrookes by her GP.

So.... would she not have been registered properly by her GP, with NI Number, etc ?

[ladybirder]

Addenbrooke's is one of 20 hospitals that have piloted the scheme over the past year. They have to ask everybody.

[mikey4444]

Ladykiller...even the ones that they already have proof of I take it ?

[naomi24]

Mikey, According to this //the NHS does not normally provide free hospital treatment for people who do not reside in the UK even if they are UK nationals.//

…so it seems the name is irrelevant. There’s more if you want to read it.

https://www.surreyandsussex.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Entitlement-to-NHS-Hospital-Treatment-for-Non-Resident-UK-Citizens.pdf

Personally, I can’t see a problem with asking people to provide evidence that they are entitled to use the service.

[EDDIE51]

As said, the Hospital is COMPELLED to ask for proof of entitlement , Addenbrooke's is my local hospital. I have been there 30 or more times, last year they literally saved my life, I have my medical records there. But EVERY time I go , they ask me for proof that I am entitled to treatment and proof of residence.
Now I just point to my NHS number on my appointment letter , they always apologize and say '' sorry but we have to ask everyone''
So it is just routine , nothing to do with her name.

[EDDIE51]

When will The Daily Wail stop publishing *** stirring non stories?
Don't bother answering we all know the answer !

[mikey4444]

Thanks Eddie.

[naomi24]

Thanks Naomi.

Oh, that's ok, Mikey. My pleasure.

;o)