only £2bn

[vetran]

Even if you have NHS number you are still asked (granted AFTER the bitrth) to prove residentship for a certain period or pay the bill. Whether said bill is collected if it's deemed payable after the fact is a different matter.

that may be half the problem.

NHS staff unhappy asking
NHS staff not chasing.

I do think putting a revenue unit in there makes sense, not necessarily directly run by the NHS. Maybe Border control? 1-2 a hospital could save a lot of money.

[SueEllen]

Even if you have NHS number you are still asked (granted AFTER the bitrth) to prove residentship for a certain period or pay the bill. Whether said bill is collected if it's deemed payable after the fact is a different matter.

The NHS isn't very good for chasing bills abroad.

[sal]

The NHS isn't very good for chasing bills abroad.

Then chase them before they leave the UK, i don't think the airlines are happy to fly infants less than 1 month old, which should give ample time for the parents to provide proof of eligibility for free NHS care. If they don't just don't let them leave the country until the debt is sorted.

At least this has a lot more chance of working, than the PR nightmare for both Gov, NHS and Doctors, when we start seeing women giving birth on the street in front of the hospital because they didn't have a passport etc.

[tomtomagain]

I call BS, visitors need health insurance, won't be granted a visa if there EWC is inside the period of the visa and even if they do manage it they get charged 150% of the cost of the birth.

Check our favourite immigration boards, loads get caught, mainly those who got their girlfriends here on a visit, got them up the duff, used it as an excuse for overstaying and then a human rights claim.

I don't.

My missus worked in a busy NHS hospital in North London as a midwife for a decade. They had lots and lots of mothers-to-be just turning up to give birth.

[stek]

I don't.

My missus worked in a busy NHS hospital in North London as a midwife for a decade. They had lots and lots of mothers-to-be just turning up to give birth.

Depends on the hospital I guess and when it was but they have clamped down though to be fair it only tends to bite people when they later go for another visa usually FLR(M). That form asks the question specifically and they do check, at random probs but people do get caught out.

[The_Equalizer]

I don't.

My missus worked in a busy NHS hospital in North London as a midwife for a decade. They had lots and lots of mothers-to-be just turning up to give birth.

And that's it in a nut shell. Even in my very non-diverse corner of the UK, on the couple of occasions I had reason to visit the maternity ward it was very cosmopolitan.

[The_Equalizer]

Moreover, what can the NHS do? Turn mothers that are about to pop out on the street?

[SueEllen]

Then chase them before they leave the UK, i don't think the airlines are happy to fly infants less than 1 month old, which should give ample time for the parents to provide proof of eligibility for free NHS care. If they don't just don't let them leave the country until the debt is sorted.

That would be the ideal but the way admin in NHS hospitals works is a mystery to everyone I know including to those I know who work in hospitals.

At least this has a lot more chance of working, than the PR nightmare for both Gov, NHS and Doctors, when we start seeing women giving birth on the street in front of the hospital because they didn't have a passport etc.

In one way I think that would be a good idea as it would decrease the number of women coming over. However it would be far more expensive per birth.

[northernladuk]

Moreover, what can the NHS do? Turn mothers that are about to pop out on the street?

They can come up with a clear and direct policy.
They can evidence they are willing to see it though, no exceptions.
They can then put the word out to all the countries that are most guilty and educate them there that that avenue is firmly closed and stem the flow.

Will take time but it can be done. How on earth is saying we'll stop it but not turn anyone away a deterrent or fix?

[bobspud]

This is really funny. My best mates wife flew out of England and went home to have her baby. She wouldn't use the NHS if they paid her.