Why is healthcare free for visitors to Britain?

SEVERAL years ago, my cousin came over from New Zealand for a month, staying with my family and touring the UK. On his first morning with us, a Saturday, he said his leg was very painful leg and thought it might be back-related. He asked for a physiotherapist, I arranged a private appointment and he was seen within a few hours. The physio advised him to go to A&E as soon as possible, because he thought my cousin had a deep vein thrombosis. In A&E, he was seen very promptly and DVT was confirmed. He was treated and advised to return the next day for a further check and injection. The hospital also rang me to say it would need to see evidence that my cousin was a visitor to the UK. He was seen promptly again and asked to return the next day for further checks and medication before starting his holiday. While my cousin was having a scan, a lady asked me for details of his stay in the UK, and I showed her his passport and return ticket, my address and my ID. I asked her if he would have to pay for his treatment and she told me that as New Zealand had a reciprocal arrangement with the UK he would not. So he paid not a penny and had amazing treatment. If more hospitals were as vigilant as this one regarding A&E departments and where people come from, especially as this all happened over a weekend, I believe our NHS wouldn’t be in the terrible financial situation it is now. Mrs CAROLYN TOLMAN,

Brentwood, Essex. Some years ago, a top scientist from America, who was rock climbing in Wales, injured himself. He was airlifted to a hospital some miles away and was very relieved to have been rescued. He was even more relieved when he was told his treatment was free. I hesitate to think how much of a dent paying for his treatment would have made in that man’s salary. Like all pensioners, my husband and I pay astronomical holiday insurance premiums when we go abroad even though all the medical problems we have are under control. We don’t do anything dangerous, only visit the sights and relax in the sun. I remember some years ago a female politician promised to look into how insurance companies overcharge pensioners. I’m still waiting for her to report on what she found. over the years, we have claimed only once, when my husband’s spectacles were knocked off in the swimming pool. The insurance company had the nerve to claim off our home insurance without even informing us. I cannot understand why visitors to our country are treated without having to pay.

MURIEL JOYCE, Liverpool.