http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1367655/Migrants-owe-1-000-kicked-UK.htmlHealth tourists told they won't be allowed back into country if they have unpaid NHS debts
Foreigners who come to Britain for free health care should be told to leave, the Government said
A crackdown on so-called health tourists was announced by ministers yesterday.
Foreigners who have failed to pay NHS bills of £1,000 or more will be banned from returning until the debt is paid.
Visitors are supposed either to have health insurance or pay themselves for hospital care in Britain.
The move is expected to stamp out 94 per cent of the abuse of the Health Service, even though it does not restrict access to GP surgeries.
Short-stay visitors are exempted from the crackdown as are failed asylum seekers – if they co-operate with Home Office support schemes.
Public health minister Anne Milton said: ‘The NHS has a duty to anyone whose life or long-term health is at immediate risk, but we cannot afford to become an international health service, providing free treatment for all.
'These changes will begin the process of developing a clearer, robust and fairer system of access to free NHS services which our review of the charging system will complete.
‘I want to see a system which maintains the confidence of the public while preventing inappropriate free access and continuing our commitment to human rights and protecting vulnerable groups.’
To enforce the rules, the NHS will inform the UK Border Agency about debtors to ensure they are not allowed to remain in, or return to, the country.
Under the changes, UK residents will be able to spend six months abroad rather than just three before they lose their automatic entitlement to free hospital treatment.
In a written ministerial statement, Miss Milton admitted: ‘Overall entitlement to free healthcare is often more generous to visitors and short-term residents than is reciprocated for UK citizens seeking treatment in many other countries.
‘Charging regulations only cover hospital treatment, so visitors may receive free primary care and other non-hospital based healthcare services.
‘Although hospitals have a statutory duty to enforce the regulations, effective enforcement by hospitals appears to vary considerably.’
The scheme will allow action to be taken against migrants only after they arrive in the UK.
To toughen up the regime in the future, ministers are to hold a review into whether non-EU migrants should have to hold health insurance before being granted a visa.
At present, only migrants will be covered, but the review will consider whether all those applying for visas should be forced to have medical insurance.
And the review will look at charging for GP services and other out-of-hospital care.
More effective and efficient processes to screen for eligibility and to make and recover charges across the NHS will also be considered.
But there will be no changes to the rules that allow EU citizens to benefit from free care on the Health Service.
Topic: Foreigners who don't pay £1,000 of NHS Bills will be banned (Read 364 times)