Immigrants may face NHS block

Sirius · 03-03-2013, 09:39

It is being reported in various papers today that immigrants may face a block on using the NHS.

http://www.politicshome.com/uk/story...nhs_block.html

Quote:

Immigrants will be barred from access to hospital care in the UK for up to a year under new proposals being considered by ministers. The idea, being developed by Iain Duncan Smith, Jeremy Hunt, and Immigration Minister Mark Harper, would still allow access to emergency and antenatal care, the Sunday Times reports.

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/...cle1224542.ece

Quote:

DAVID CAMERON is preparing to limit the access of immigrants to free healthcare amid concerns the NHS is being abused by new arrivals and turned into a “global health service”.

The government clampdown will be seen as a response to a surge in support for UKIP at the Eastleigh by-election and accusations by Tory MPs that Cameron has failed to get a grip on immigration and the burgeoning cost of new arrivals.

I have no issue with this, if they have not paid in to our NHS then why should they get treatment out of our NHS.

I tried to get treatment for a cut foot in Cyprus on holiday and they flat refused me service unless i paid, i showed my EU health card and they still refused saying Foreigners have to pay. Glad i had insurance. so its one rule for them and an other for us.

Derek · 03-03-2013, 09:53

Will never happen.

They can try and bring it in but the second they do lawyers will be all over it like a rash.

SMG · 03-03-2013, 09:56

These are the people the government should target, all their benefits should be reviewed & leave the disabled & working man alone.

**Damien** · 03-03-2013, 09:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

I tried to get treatment for a cut foot in Cyprus on holiday and they flat refused me service unless i paid, i showed my EU health card and they still refused saying Foreigners have to pay. Glad i had insurance. so its one rule for them and an other for us.

That's messed up. They're legally obliged to provide treatment that would be provided on the NHS. Either that was a corrupt, incompetent or maybe private medical practise. It's certainly not 'one rule for them and another for us', they broke the rules.

The EEA healthcare thing should remain. It's very useful.

Derek · 03-03-2013, 10:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

It's certainly not 'one rule for them and another for us', they broke the rules.

Possibly it was down to the way EU laws and regulations are seen as more a suggestion in some, mostly southern, EU countries rather than complied with to the letter as they are in the UK.

Sirius · 03-03-2013, 10:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek

Possibly it was down to the way EU laws and regulations are seen as more a suggestion in some, mostly southern, EU countries rather than complied with to the letter as they are in the UK.

I had to pay in the end and then claim it back from my insurance.

03-03-2013, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

I had to pay in the end and then claim it back from my insurance.

The EEA cards do not entitle you to free NHS style treatment ,they mean you are entitled to the same treatment as a citizen of that country and since you where in Cyprus then a contribution is made by the patient.

Sirius · 03-03-2013, 11:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

The EEA cards do not entitle you to free NHS style treatment ,they mean you are entitled to the same treatment as a citizen of that country and since you where in Cyprus then a contribution is made by the patient.

Yet if they come here they get it for free, one rule for them and one for us.

**Damien** · 03-03-2013, 11:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

Yet if they come here they get it for free, one rule for them and one for us.

It's not one rule for them and another for us. It's the same rules across the country.

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthc...einCyprus.aspx

Sirius · 03-03-2013, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

It's not one rule for them and another for us. It's the same rules across the country.

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthc...einCyprus.aspx

So if they come here do they have to pay to use a doctor or a hospital ?

**Damien** · 03-03-2013, 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

So if they come here do they have to pay to use a doctor or a hospital ?

No because we don't. You're entitled to the same treatment as a normal resident. You think you should be treated different than the residents of the country you're in?

Sirius · 03-03-2013, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

No because we don't. You're entitled to the same treatment as a normal resident. You think you should be treated different than the residents of the country you're in?

Then why can they come here and get free treatment and yet we have to pay in there country, looks like a rule for them and a different rule for us. This is exactly why the rules on health care for immigrants need to be re looked at and holiday makers should get the same from us as they would give our people in there country. However as it stands they can come here get there problems sorted for free then go back to your own country laughing at how stupid we are to treat anyone and anything for free.

Another reason for me to vote for UKIP at the next election.

**Damien** · 03-03-2013, 11:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

Then why can they come here and get free treatment and yet we have to pay in there country, looks like a rule for them and a different rule for us.

Because you're entitled to the same healthcare as residents of that country. It's the same rule for them as it is for you. If a tourist is here, covered by the EU, then they're entitled to the same as you. If you're over there then you get the same treatment as they do.

You're not entitled to special treatment when you go abroad. If you went to Germany rather than Cyprus it may have been better, a flat rate of 10 euros I think.

Quote:

This is exactly why the rules on health care for immigrants need to be re looked at and holiday makers should get the same from use as they would give our people in there country. However as it stands they can come here get there problems sorted for free then go back to your own country laughing at how stupid we are to treat anyone and anything for free.

That is an unworkable system. You expect to walk into a Doctor in Cyprus and demand you get treated better than the residents of the country because that's how it works in the UK? Not all places have the same medical facilities or systems in place to do that.

03-03-2013, 11:29

If someone is living ,working, paying taxes in this country why shouldn't they be offered NHS treatment? Some immigrants pay more into this country in 1 year than people born here do in their entire lives.

danielf · 03-03-2013, 11:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

Then why can they come here and get free treatment and yet we have to pay in there country, looks like a rule for them and a different rule for us.

It looks more like you want it to be one rule for them and one for us so you can have something to moan about.