Charge upfront before any treatment in NHS hospitals

WHILE I agree genuine emergency treatment for overseas visitors should be available on the NHS, although they should have health insurance, I fail to see why visitors that take advantage of our overstretched service for ongoing health problems can’t be charged up front.

If visitors need a procedure surely the cost should be discussed before they begin treatment and payment obtained at least in part?

Charging after the event is a nonsense. If you buy goods from a shop you have to pay then and there, or is this too simple a solution? Chris Crossan, Ilford, Essex