[Pamthehound]

I was in Hospital just before christmas and I was amazed at the amount of foreigners who were attending clinics and taking up beds. Many had to have interpreters to translate for medics and one man in particular was "going home to Pakistan" once he got discharged after major surgery.He has never worked nor payed taxes here in the UK , but felt great because he was able to raise the airfare and select the best hospital for his operation on the NHS.

The sooner the NHS has a great big Payments Desk at the entrance to all GP surgeries and Hospitals for those who are not resident or pay taxes here the sooner the better and much needed funds for the NHS.

[WhiteFang]

Well the UK is a mug if it is allowing non Brits to swan in and use the NHS.No treatment without ID perhaps.

[Takae]

Sigh. They* do pay. Via their own pockets or health insurance companies.

Edit: *apart from those on the NHS's list of exempted countries, e.g. Australia.

[rbdcay]

Controversial.....

[Ber]

Originally Posted by Takae

Sigh. They* do pay. Via their own pockets or health insurance companies.

Edit: *apart from those on the NHS's list of exempted countries, e.g. Australia.

Well thats that question answered then.

Although I doubt it will stop people ranting about foreigners using the NHS for free.

[Elyan]

I know of many cases where people living here have brought their relatives from abroad for treatment.

They say the condition has suddenly become apparent whilst the person was visiting them.

You can't blame them though. Anyone would do the same if they could get away with it.

[UKMikey]

We should only ever treat people who can speak English is the OP's implication. That's how she can tell that most of them haven't paid.

I hope I never get injured in a foreign country.

[Madridista23]

The last time i went to a hospital (an A and E department) i was made to sign a form stating that i was entitled to the treatment i was about to receive.

[Never Nude]

Originally Posted by Takae

Sigh. They* do pay. Via their own pockets or health insurance companies.

Edit: *apart from those on the NHS's list of exempted countries, e.g. Australia.

Ssssshhhhhhhhh, don't ruin there fun with sense

[ladymoanalot]

Originally Posted by Pamthehound

I was in Hospital just before christmas and I was amazed at the amount of foreigners who were attending clinics and taking up beds. Many had to have interpreters to translate for medics and one man in particular was "going home to Pakistan" once he got discharged after major surgery.He has never worked nor payed taxes here in the UK, but felt great because he was able to raise the airfare and select the best hospital for his operation on the NHS.

The sooner the NHS has a great big Payments Desk at the entrance to all GP surgeries and Hospitals for those who are not resident or pay taxes here the sooner the better and much needed funds for the NHS.

Hmmm sounds a bit cliched to me.

I am suprised you also did not find out that he loved the fact we gave him lots of benefits as well.

I suppose for you to have found all this out, you must have had a conversation with him, or are you just making assumptions?

[-Sid-]

Originally Posted by Pamthehound

I was in Hospital just before christmas and I was amazed at the amount of foreigners who were attending clinics and taking up beds. Many had to have interpreters to translate for medics and one man in particular was "going home to Pakistan" once he got discharged after major surgery.He has never worked nor payed taxes here in the UK , but felt great because he was able to raise the airfare and select the best hospital for his operation on the NHS.

The sooner the NHS has a great big Payments Desk at the entrance to all GP surgeries and Hospitals for those who are not resident or pay taxes here the sooner the better and much needed funds for the NHS.

Something doesn't ring true about this story. You gleaned all that information from the Pakistani man? I just can't imagine having that type of conversation with a fellow patient on a hospital ward and the medical staff certainly wouldn't provide you with the info.

[tellywatcher73]

I'm sure the government claims the money back from their home country, don't they? That's if they are not a resident here.

[ladymoanalot]

Originally Posted by -Sid-

Something doesn't ring true about this story. You gleaned all that information from the Pakistani man? I just can't imagine having that type of conversation with a fellow patient on a hospital ward and the medical staff certainly wouldn't provide you with the info.

My thoughts exactly.

[mackara]

Originally Posted by Pamthehound

I was in Hospital just before christmas and I was amazed at the amount of foreigners who were attending clinics and taking up beds. Many had to have interpreters to translate for medics and one man in particular was "going home to Pakistan" once he got discharged after major surgery.He has never worked nor payed taxes here in the UK , but felt great because he was able to raise the airfare and select the best hospital for his operation on the NHS.

The sooner the NHS has a great big Payments Desk at the entrance to all GP surgeries and Hospitals for those who are not resident or pay taxes here the sooner the better and much needed funds for the NHS.

Did you see any Pakistani or foreign doctors and nurses while you were in hospital?

[CoreenBaconskin]

Funny that.

When my grandad came over to visit from Pakistan he got ill and went to hospital and we paid for his treatment.

Can you tell me the name of this magic foreign spongers hospital so the next time someone comes over we'll send them there to whip their kidneys out on tick?

[Takae]

Originally Posted by Elyan

I know of many cases where people living here have brought their relatives from abroad for treatment.

They say the condition has suddenly become apparent whilst the person was visiting them.

You can't blame them though. Anyone would do the same if they could get away with it.

It doesn't work that way, though. When my cousin was here as a part-time student, she once suffered severe stomach pains and we went to A&E. I had to be her interpreter (she understands English, but she was upset, scared and in pain, so she reverted to her native language, hence my presence).

During this, she had to sign two forms. I admit that when a nurse explained what it was for which I translated it to my cousin who then signed the form, I still can't remember the nurse's explanation and my own translation. It was decided that she needed to be admitted with a possibility of an emergency operation.

During the admittance, they asked me for her name, contact details and her national insurance number. I explained she wasn't British and blah blah. They asked for her health insurance company details, etc. They came back to me and said the details weren't correct. I called her parents for the correct details, but the calls went unanswered (not surprising as it was around 3AM at their end).

I had to provide my own name, contact details, NS number and credit card details as a security measure. The correct details were provided before the operation. Thankfully as I was really broke at the time.

She wasn't charged for a check-up in A&E, but fully charged for the operation, medications, consultations and a stay at her NHS hospital. Throughout all this, the hospital was pretty vigilant on the details of my cousin's addresses, entitlement and health insurance company.

[Elyan]

Originally Posted by Takae

It doesn't work that way, though. When my cousin was here as a part-time student, she once suffered severe stomach pains and we went to A&E. I had to be her interpreter (she understands English, but she was upset, scared and in pain, so she reverted to her native language, hence my presence).

During this, she had to sign two forms. I admit that when a nurse explained what it was for which I translated it to my cousin who then signed the form, I still can't remember the nurse's explanation and my own translation. It was decided that she needed to be admitted with a possibility of an emergency operation.

During the admittance, they asked me for her name, contact details and her national insurance number. I explained she wasn't British and blah blah. They asked for her health insurance company details, etc. They came back to me and said the details weren't correct. I called her parents for the correct details, but the calls went unanswered (not surprising as it was around 3AM at their end).

I had to provide my own name, contact details, NS number and credit card details as a security measure. The correct details were provided before the operation. Thankfully as I was really broke at the time.

She wasn't charged for a check-up in A&E, but fully charged for the operation, medications, consultations and a stay at her NHS hospital. Throughout all this, the hospital was pretty vigilant on the details of my cousin's addresses, entitlement and health insurance company.

Once the person has left the country there's very little they can do.

They certainly wouldn't be able to come after you for the money.

[Takae]

Originally Posted by Never Nude

Ssssshhhhhhhhh, don't ruin there fun with sense

Oh, sorry. I'd better make a cuppa then.

[mackara]

Originally Posted by Elyan

Once the person has left the country there's very little they can do.

They certainly wouldn't be able to come after you for the money.

Nonsense, they would have never received the treatment in the first place unless they had already paid.

[Takae]

Originally Posted by Elyan

Once the person has left the country there's very little they can do.

They certainly wouldn't be able to come after you for the money.

Did you miss that part where I said I had to provide my own NS number and credit card details?

[Elyan]

Originally Posted by mackara

Nonsense, they would have never received the treatment in the first place unless they had already paid.

Do you seriously think an NHS hospital would refuse to carry out an emergency operation without payment up front?

[Elyan]

Originally Posted by Takae

Did you miss that part where I said I had to provide my own NS number and credit card details?

No I saw that.

I still question whether you'd be obliged to pay for it.

[ladymoanalot]

Originally Posted by Elyan

Do you seriously think an NHS hospital would refuse to carry out an emergency operation without payment up front?

Maybe not in an emergency hence life or death.

But this man in the OP was supposedly bragging about how he got to choose his hospital, not something you have time to do in a life or death situ.

[PinkPetunia]

Originally Posted by Elyan

I know of many cases where people living here have brought their relatives from abroad for treatment.

They say the condition has suddenly become apparent whilst the person was visiting them.

You can't blame them though. Anyone would do the same if they could get away with it.

Are you sure about that . The NHS will check if you have a NI number or as an EU citizen a EU heath card .I know this as my daughter needed to see a GP in UK and is not a UK citizen .She was being charged £100 untill she produced her EU Health card .Its not as simple as walking in and being treated.The EU have a reciprocal agreement in all EU countries whaich a completly different matter .

[Takae]

Originally Posted by Elyan

No I saw that.

I still question whether you'd be obliged to pay for it.

According to the contents of the form: yes, I would be. In fact, when I read this part, I explained I didn't have the money. I was told that I should find someone who could afford it as soon as possible, e.g. my aunt or uncle, to replace my details.

By the time my cousin was preparing to be discharged, the hospital had already obtained a written agreement to pay the charges from her health insurance company. My cousin signed a form, acknowledging she was informed this.

It's not as simple as we like to think.