NHS patients to be asked about national status

British patients seeking care from the National Health Service (NHS) may be grilled over their national status under new laws by the Department of International Health.

Under the laws, those seeking care may be asked to show their passport before they receive medical help. Those who are seeking care for the first time may be asked about their living situation in Britain and how long they have resided in the country.

The laws already came into force on April 6th for short-term visitors and for migrants. Accident & Emergency (A&E) and primary care will remain free for all, but the Department of Health outlined plans to sanction trusts that fail to detect and charge patients who should pay up. The Department say it is part of a new hardline initiative on alleged “health tourism.”

The majority of foreign migrants and visitors from abroad can access free healthcare, but they already have to pay back the costs of most of their care afterwards.

Many analysts argue that the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and the right-wing anti-immigrant element of the Tory party have lurched government policies to the right, blaming immigration for many social and economic issues in Britain. During a recent election debate show, UKIP leader Nigel Farage caused controversy by linking those suffering HIV in Britain to their nationality.

Meantime, PM David Cameron has felt the threat of UKIP on his electoral chances and reacted by promising a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union.

Reacting to the Department of Health’s new initiatives, Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said that "this is not the International Health Service, it's the National Health Service. Non-UK nationals seeking medical attention should pay for their treatment.”

Those people living in Britain, who are non-UK citizens but have the legal right to reside in the country, will be allowed to continue to use free NHS care.

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