NAIL NHS TOURISTS

Foreigners must pay up front

NATIONAL Health Service chiefs have launched a huge crackdown on health tourists.

The aim is to claw back millions from foreign patients who refuse to pay.

Special hit squads are being sent in to hospitals to stop non-EU patients who come here for free treatment and then vanish.

Bosses have also drawn up an Overseas Patient Up Front Price List – with the most expensive intensive care packages costing £143,000. Cardiac surgery will cost £16,400 plus £2,607 for each day in intensive care.

Foreign pregnant women who fly in will be presented with an invoice for £7,000 before they give birth.

People who live in the European Economic Area will receive a 30% discount.

Foreign visitors will not be charged for visits to a GP or A&E and refugees and asylum seekers will be totally exempt. The move comes as it was revealed that treating foreigners had cost the NHS £140million in non-payment over the last five years.

The Government introduced a law making hospitals legally responsible for charging overseas patients – and collecting the money – before the start of treatment last October. However, the scheme has only been used in 18 trusts so far.

Patients will now need identification and proof of a UK address with a target to recover 95% of the total bills.

Dr Kathy McLean, from NHS Improvement, said: “With NHS finances coming under increasing pressure, it is vital that hospitals are properly supported to recover income they are entitled to.”