Hospital

[Chuck]

A fascinating programme about an NHS Trust in London.

Last night was about how people not entitled to "free" treatment are charged.

It goes something like this...

NHS: Erm excuse me, if you really don't mind, and if it's ok with you, here's a bill for the treatment you are getting but aren't entitled to receive for free
Patient: Ok thanks.
NHS: So will you pay it?
Patient: No
NHS: Oh, ok then, thanks. Have a nice day.

We can't not treat some of these cases, but how do we recoup the money for the treatment they should be paying for?

[LondonManc]

A fascinating programme about an NHS Trust in London.

Last night was about how people not entitled to "free" treatment are charged.

It goes something like this...

NHS: Erm excuse me, if you really don't mind, and if it's ok with you, here's a bill for the treatment you are getting but aren't entitled to receive for free
Patient: Ok thanks.
NHS: So will you pay it?
Patient: No
NHS: Oh, ok then, thanks. Have a nice day.

We can't not treat some of these cases, but how do we recoup the money for the treatment they should be paying for?

Doesn't happen, the lefties and bremoaners told us.

Even though it does, but it's clearly an alternative fact.

[vetran]

no health insurance from approved supplier = No Visa or entry.

Health insurance invalid while here = Visa offence = Deportation.

Simple.

[northernladyuk]

A fascinating programme about an NHS Trust in London.

Last night was about how people not entitled to "free" treatment are charged.

It goes something like this...

NHS: Erm excuse me, if you really don't mind, and if it's ok with you, here's a bill for the treatment you are getting but aren't entitled to receive for free
Patient: Ok thanks.
NHS: So will you pay it?
Patient: No
NHS: Oh, ok then, thanks. Have a nice day.

We can't not treat some of these cases, but how do we recoup the money for the treatment they should be paying for?

If the treatment is free to everyone (e.g. A&E), then there is no charge.

If it is chargeable but urgent, then the NHS provider is in the world of international debt recovery.

If it is chargeable but non-urgent, then it should be paid in advance.

Fascinating read here: http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads...rging_accs.pdf

It is a real problem. Didn't see the programme. Did it focus entirely on foreign overseas visitors or did it also pick up on the very real issue of UK citizens living abroad (e.g. pensioners in Spain) flying back for treatment they are not entitled to as non-residents?

[barrydidit]

A fascinating programme about an NHS Trust in London.

Last night was about how people not entitled to "free" treatment are charged.

It goes something like this...

NHS: Erm excuse me, if you really don't mind, and if it's ok with you, here's a bill for the treatment you are getting but aren't entitled to receive for free
Patient: Ok thanks.
NHS: So will you pay it?
Patient: No
NHS: Oh, ok then, thanks. Have a nice day.

We can't not treat some of these cases, but how do we recoup the money for the treatment they should be paying for?

Can we just harvest their organs and feed the useless bits to the pigs?

[vetran]

If the treatment is free to everyone (e.g. A&E), then there is no charge.

If it is chargeable but urgent, then the NHS provider is in the world of international debt recovery.

If it is chargeable but non-urgent, then it should be paid in advance.

Fascinating read here: http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads...rging_accs.pdf

It is a real problem. Didn't see the programme. Did it focus entirely on foreign overseas visitors or did it also pick up on the very real issue of UK citizens living abroad (e.g. pensioners in Spain) flying back for treatment they are not entitled to as non-residents?

sorry to say all medical treatment for non residents should be chargeable full stop. We may not charge prior to emergency assistance but it should be charged at some point.

Easy thing is to say - ask patient / relative where are your details Passport etc lookup insurance & advise them.

Otherwise take passport until paid.

[woohoo]

sorry to say all medical treatment for non residents should be chargeable full stop. We may not charge prior to emergency assistance but it should be charged at some point.

Easy thing is to say - ask patient / relative where are your details Passport etc lookup insurance & advise them.

Otherwise take passport until paid.

I agree that we should be stricter. But if you are in hospital about to have a baby(s) and you don't or won't give your passport to the hospital, what next.

I agree about checking for valid insurance before travel and I know the insurance could still be inadequate but it's a start.

[SueEllen]

sorry to say all medical treatment for non residents should be chargeable full stop. We may not charge prior to emergency assistance but it should be charged at some point.

Easy thing is to say - ask patient / relative where are your details Passport etc lookup insurance & advise them.

Otherwise take passport until paid.

If you were a single illegal immigrant from a developing country you wouldn't give a tulip about that unless you could be imprisoned at some point for not getting your family to pay.

[NigelJK]

all medical treatment for non residents should be chargeable full stop

There are quite a few 'procedures' for the residents that should also incur a charge.

[Chuck]

One of the patients was quite tragic. A pregnant Nigerian, not allowed entry to the US because she didn't have the right insurance in place, was taken ill on a flight back to Nigeria via Heathrow. She was taken to hospital here and treated. I think she had 5 babies in all, 3 of which died. Her bill at the end of the programme was £331k and rising.

If she lived a hundred lifetimes, she could never pay that bill.

You can't not treat her, but that's £331k not available to treat other patients, who are entitled to it.