The move is part of efforts to reduce the £300m bill for "wasted" medication, which is prescribed but not used. In the same speech, he said missed GP appointments cost the taxpayer £162m and missed hospital appointments cost £750m. 723 million pounds 300 million pounds 162 million pounds 750 million pounds starting to build now how many nurses would that pay for how many operations would it pay for
This has nothing to do with the NHS budget, because the NHS doesn't control who enters the country and isn't being directed by the government to refuse treatment to those who don't have the right to it. It shouldn't be too hard to stop non-residents from entering the country without personal health insurance cover that guarantees payment for their treatment if they need any whilst they're here. To check that probably requires money to increase Border Control resources. Possibly more money than we're spending treating the "health tourists". So, the government chooses to let the NHS take the hit because it's cheaper for the country to just swallow it rather than stop it. And there's another scapegoat issue to use when they need it.
Spot on. Governments of all colours have always managed to find money for bale outs and war, but the NHS is ALWAYS left short, both in terms of management and funds. (**** me.............I've come over all left wing!! Who'd have thunk it?)
I didn't know that. I'm assuming you mean insurance against medical expenses, not just for lost luggage. So where do these "health tourists" come from that people are being wound up about, I wonder? Or are they just running up a bill and then failing to pay it and leaving the country again?
Even for a short term tourist visa you need normal travel insurance which covers medical expenses, death or disablity due an accident, and evacuation or repatriation cover.
I don't think so, we have a reciprocal central arrangement whereby money is transferred between governments based on number of visitors/residents. So we pay Spain quite a lot, and I suppose Poland pays us a bit. Whether any of this money ever gets to the NHS I don't know. But after Brexit I suppose we would need to ensure that visitors from the EU, whether on holiday or for work, are properly covered, which may point to visas, unless we keep the current arrangement through the negotiation. My info may be out of date, but when I worked in the NHS you could claim for any attendance in A&E which wasn't local - so the unfortunate victim's local health authority would pay for treatment if you injured yourself away from home. But the paperwork and transaction cost was so great that it was rarely followed through with. It may be that currently non EU users of the service are frequently not registered as foreign - you can only get an outpatients appointment through being registered with a GP, which would imply an NI number and permanent address, and they tend to treat whatever turns up in A&E even if you can't give a GP registration.
I was talking about visitors from countries the UK require to have a visa. Anyone living in an EEA country and with a social security (NHI) number there, can get a European Health Insurance Card from their national health authority, free in Norway at least. The card confirms the holder is entitled to necessary health care when staying in another EEA country. It says cover is provided in accordance with the rules of the host country. Also that the card is not valid if the purpose of the visit is to receive treatment. So it's a good idea to get one of these if you travel in Europe, for the next 2 or 3 years anyway! I remember the card gave free treatment in Greece, while you had to pay, and try to claim a refund if you only had an insurance company''s travel insurance card there.
Good reminder Oslo, just had a look at my EHIC card and it expires on Boxing Day. Better get a new one before they are denied to us.
We must all chip in and buy him a Norwich shirt to wear on the flight. Then he'll look like a proper Canary. Enjoy your hols Col. Which part are you going to??
Still in Mexico. Arrive home Friday. Love Mexico (it helps when you stay in nice gaffs), not too keen on Cuba although I loved the old architecture and old American cars there. No affect from the hurricane. Just a bit windy and rough waves the day it entered Florida which was the nearest point to me in Havana.
I am currently in Puerto Vallarta. I was also in Monterrey and Mexico City. Loved all of them to be honest. The trick with places like this is to pay the extra and stay in nice places. I checked into one 3 star place which I thought was a bargain when I seen it on the net. I legged it after an hour as it was filthy and I had Delhi belly.
