This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
NHS hospitals to be legally bound to charge overseas patients
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced that NHS hospitals in England will have a legal duty to charge overseas patients upfront for non-urgent care if they are not eligible for free treatment.
The news means, from April this year, foreign patients could be refused operations unless they cover their costs in advance. The news comes amid recent headlines about the cost of tourists using the NHS.
Currently hospitals are directed to charge patients living outside the European Economic Area for care such as hip operations or cataract removal, but this can be done by invoice, rather than upfront.
Commenting on the measures, Hunt said: "We have no problem with overseas visitors using our NHS - as long as they make a fair contribution, just as the British taxpayer does.
“So today we are announcing plans to change the law which means those who aren't eligible for free care will be asked to pay upfront for non-urgent treatment.
"We aim to recover up to £500 million a year by the middle of this Parliament – money that can then be reinvested in patient care.”
Responding top the announcement, Dr Mark Porter, BMA council chairman, said: "There is no detail as to how upfront charging will be introduced from scratch in just three months, in an NHS already unable to cope with normal operations."
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