Health Tourists to be Charged for NHS?

The UK Health Secretary has stated that people using the NHS, even if visiting, should pay and help to stop the Health Tourists. It has been claimed that some residents from other countries (America being one that was named) come to Britain for free maternity and after care. Others come with serious illnesses hoping to be treated free.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/health-tour...l?vp=1#xQciwrZ

Do you agree with this proposal?

I was surprised by the GP and the scenario he painted - if I am(or any other Manx resident is) taken ill in the UK, I would be treated but the Manx Government would be charged for me as a private patient.

Re: Health Tourists to be Charged for NHS?

Agree with this one - foreign travellers have not contributed here for NHS treatment..... should have been done ages ago ...

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When you go into hospital, you aren't asked for much more than your name, age and address. If you can supply an address of say a relative living in UK, would it go any further than this at present?

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You would have to give more details than that, Doctor for example .....

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If you live in France it costs £40 just to see the Doctor that's without any drugs or hospital appointment so I think a hospital charge of £200 sounds cheap to me. My son is going to pay thousands in France for my new Granddaughter due in October.

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Completely agree with this all we would need to do is show our NHS card as proof we are entitled to "free" care.

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always have insurance

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Trouble is they're lots of forgeries about, people selling counterfeit ones. They use dead peoples names & numbers. We need something like chip & pin or iris scanners, like in airports.

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It's been estimated that treating non-residents costs the NHS £30m a year............not peanuts.

Re: Health Tourists to be Charged for NHS?

Oh I didn't realise, well chip and pin, tattoo, chip under the skin like dogs and cats - would happily have any of them.