Should the NHS crack down on health tourists?

I AM astonished a ‘health tourist’ ran up a NHS bill of £530,000 and UK taxpayers have been left to pick it up (Mail). If my taxes are used to fund the NHS, I can’t complain. However, when they are used to treat visitors who have no intention of paying, my blood boils! What possible excuse can hospitals have for not setting up checking systems? One step would be that visitors needing treatment should hand over their passport until they have paid their bill. J. R. wInFIELd, scotton, n. Yorks.

THE Department of Health has said hospitals must charge patients who are not eligible for free care. Charging them is one thing; getting them to pay the bill is quite another matter.

TOnY THOMAs, stoneleigh, surrey.

WHEN I needed urgent medical treatment on holiday in Lanzarote, I was asked for my passport, European Health Insurance card and insurance documents. Why can’t the NHS do this? HARRY sMALLsHAw, Bolton, Lancs.

OVERSEAS visitors should have to produce travel insurance on arrival. No insurance, no entry! CALVIn ELdER, Hornchurch, Essex.

ON A trip to Canada, I required hospital treatment. Though I was in agony on a trolley, before anyone would look at me I was asked for my credit card and passport. I could only admire their efficiency. As I had travel insurance, I was reimbursed on my return home. EMMA BROwn, southampton.

WHEN I contracted a chest infection in Brazil, I was treated in a private clinic and had to pay £290 upfront. Back home, I saw my GP and a hospital chest consultant, and was given a CT scan, X-ray, audio scan and endoscopy, all for no charge. What a wonderful NHS we have! A. MARsdEn, Torquay, devon.