Upfront charging of overseas patients

The BMA Annual Representative Meeting last month carried a motion proposed by Dr Jackie Applebee, of Tower Hamlets Division, stating:

“That this meeting calls on the BMA to publicly support the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Faculty of Public Health in their call for the suspension of regulations that force hospitals to charge overseas visitors upfront for NHS care.”

Coincidentally, on the same day the motion was debated at conference, the Government were being questioned on the issue by the Health and Social Care Select Committee (HSCSC). Stephen Hammond MP, Minister of State for Health and MP for Wimbledon, was questioned alongside Sir Chris Wormald, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care.

Dr Paul Williams MP, committee member and GP, asked Stephen Hammond about a review of changes to the rules regarding charging overseas patients, conducted by DHSC, which concluded that the changes had not deterred overseas visitors from using the NHS. In particular, Paul Williams wanted to know why the DHSC had refused repeated requests for the HSCSC to be allowed to see the document, resulting in Chris Wormold correcting the Minister to say that the report did not contain findings about the effects of the charging regime as a whole.

The session concluded without a commitment to publish the review which the HSCSC had asked for.

The full transcript of the Health Select Committee session can be read here.

Last updated : 16 Jul 2019

 

Supporting GPs’ mental health (17 Aug 2021)

The past 20 months have been an extremely stressful time for many GPs and their practice teams with a significant impact on mental health. We have continued to promote the...
Read more »

Becton Dickinson blood specimen collection portfolio supply disruption (11 Aug 2021)

We have been made aware of a supply problem with one of the major suppliers of the vacutainers used to collect blood for tests. Whilst this may not affect all...
Read more »

LMC elections 2021 - results (02 Aug 2021)

Voting in the 2021 LMC elections closed on 27 July 2021. The results are listed below. Congratulations to all those GPs who have been elected. We look forward to working...
Read more »

Committee Liaison Executive vacancies (2 posts) at Londonwide LMCs (30 Jul 2021)

Londonwide Local Medical Committees is the membership organisation representing over 7,000 constituent NHS general practitioners and 1,200 practice teams in London. Londonwide LMCs provides pan-London leadership and shared committee services...
Read more »

NHS letter to help people without an NHS number access the Covid-19 vaccine and register with a GP (23 Jul 2021)

On 23 July 2021 NHS England and NHS Improvement and Public Health England issued a useful letter which advises people without an NHS number, including people who are migrants, how...
Read more »

LMC elections - voting closing on 27 July (21 Jul 2021)

Elections are taking place for LMCs in Bexley, Ealing, Greenwich, Merton and Redbridge this year. If you are a GP working in one of these LMC areas please ensure you...
Read more »

Access for undocumented patients (21 Jul 2021)

Londonwide LMCs and London’s individual LMCs continue to share information about enabling patients to register for general medical services with GP practices and for Covid-19 vaccinations, regardless of immigration status...
Read more »

Londonwide LMCs summary briefing: Health and Care Bill 2021 (21 Jul 2021)

Innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all. Full draft text of the Bill. Timing The Health and Care Bill received its first reading on 6 July...
Read more »
Next Page »
« Previous Page