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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Health Tourism - woman has 5 babies on the NHS

545 replies

BlimmingCheek · 02/07/2011 22:44

AIBU to think that this woman is taking the bloody piss?

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3673011/Nigerian-mum-Bimbo-Ayelabola-flew-into-Britain-and-had-quins-on-the-NHS.html

I very much doubt she will be sent back. Who is paying her legal fees is what I would like to know?

Are we a soft touch or just a lovely compassionate country with enough resources for all?

OP posts:
SheCutOffTheirTails · 04/07/2011 14:00

If a woman who came to the UK specifically to avail of free healthcare, and her triplets (that nobody was expecting) took up places in NICU that were then unavailable for the baby of a local woman, and that baby died, then you really have to be wearing blinkers to refuse to see a connection between the baby's death and health tourism.

The connection is pretty obvious.

Blithely waving it off as "inadequate provision" means, I take it, that you presume, that you think expensive neonatal care should be planned with the expectation that women will show up from abroad heavily pregnant and be treated for free? How much tax, exactly, do you want to pay?

Are you happy for the NHS to collapse under the weight of your pride in allowing it to be used by people who have no entitlement to it? You're fine with UK residents care being compromised so that people from around the world can dump their most expensive health problems on our doorstep?

Xenia · 04/07/2011 14:38

They do look absolutely gorgeous, though.
I don't# believe the babies would die on a flight to South Africa. She is legally liable to pay the £200k cost to date of the NHS so the NHS should get Max Clifford or someone paid on commission to get her a few media deals and ensure all the money less his commission goes back to the NHS (is us) and then when she's earned the £200k and the cost of her flight back we put her on a flight home.

springboksaplenty · 04/07/2011 15:01

Bit harsh Xenia sending her to SA when she's from Nigeria

Hammy02 · 04/07/2011 15:05

It is fucking outrageous. It isn't a race issue. If a white American came over and did this, it would be equally outrageous. We are the laughing stock of the world when it comes to this sort of thing. We never send out the message that we won't tolerate this and until we do, it will only get worse.

catgirl1976 · 04/07/2011 15:12

If a white American came over hear and did this

you wouldn't hear about it as neither the Sun nor the Daily Mail would be interested in publishing the "story". But, hey....it's not a race issue.

catgirl1976 · 04/07/2011 15:12

If a white American came over hear and did this

you wouldn't hear about it as neither the Sun nor the Daily Mail would be interested in publishing the "story". But, hey....it's not a race issue.

Hammy02 · 04/07/2011 15:15

It isn't a race issue to me. Just disgusting as people are dying through lack of access to cancer drugs etc. 200K is a hell of a lot of money and could do so much good elsewhere. The UK needs to realise that it can't save the world.

catgirl1976 · 04/07/2011 15:20

£200k is a drop in the ocean to the governement trust me.

Hammy02 · 04/07/2011 15:22

Excellent. If it is a drop in the ocean, they can pay my mortgage for me. And every other taxpayer in this country. Champion.

catgirl1976 · 04/07/2011 15:25

I am not saying it is right, but they waste billions without blinking an eye. The NHS is serioulsy mis-managed and the money wasted by the constant cock ups in governement procurement is an absolute joke.

Xenia · 04/07/2011 15:34

GPs have some difficulties working out who is a health tourist and who isn't. I certainly think she can be monitored for any profits made and those be taken against the NHS debt for which she is apparently liable.

We could also if we let her stay require her husband comes over to support her or her relatives so there aren't on going benefit claims.

(Yes, sorry I knew it as Nigeria. I was there last year They have lots of twins there actually I know these quins came about from double dose OTC clomid)

ilovemydogandMrObama · 04/07/2011 16:34

But Xenia it isn't a GP's job to work out who is entitled and who isn't.

Personally, I don't see the big problem with something like identity cards. I know lots of people equate identity cards with loss of civil liberties, but don't really think so. It's your name/address/picture.

catgirl1976 · 04/07/2011 17:15

oh. dear. god.

droves · 04/07/2011 17:25

Why cant the lady go back home to nigeria with her husband ?

Or perhaps the reason is, he got back on a plane when he found out there was more than one baby . What a nasty thing too do.

Poor woman Sad.

Rocky12 · 04/07/2011 17:50

For everyone who is saying it is a drop in the oceon, what if you or your daughter was rushed to hospital expecting a baby that was coming early. Would say it was fine if you were turned away because some stupid stupid women who is clearly out for what she can get for free has taken up all of the beds and who then sells her story to some newspaper?

When are we going to stop this madness. It has nothing to do with race apart from the fact this women is from another country. I bet even if we let her stay she will be a complete drain on the system, just remember that when a family member is let down by the NHS because this women who has contributed NOTHING is taking up resources!

LadyBeagleEyes · 04/07/2011 18:25

Does anyone on this thread know, actually know, personally, anyone that has or is a health tourist?
Or do you all just read biased newspapers and get on your high horse?
Someone, somewhere please give me an example of your personal experiences.
Just that.

catgirl1976 · 04/07/2011 18:31

I bet no one can Lady Beagle. Although I am sure plenty will have "a friend of a friend" story..

moondog · 04/07/2011 18:36

'Bit harsh Xenia sending her to SA when she's from Nigeria'

Rocky12 · 04/07/2011 18:44

My Uncle was an Immgration Officer at Heathrow for 20 years. Trick was to have a relative here-get an MP involved and get temp status and then just disappear. Women from the African countries were known to lie about how pregnant they were to get here. They then plead they were fleeing for their lives (but had found the money to get a flight) and also to tear up their passports and flush down the aircraft toilet. So, yes, it is common enough

Rocky12 · 04/07/2011 18:49

But to make it a little light hearted - he passed Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman and others through his immgration gate. It is really only royalty who are dealt with on board flights. The immigration officers fight to open another gate if they saw someone really famous and you would never see an A lister waiting in line.

Having said that, going to Dubai with my young son a immgration officer opened a gate especially for us and shut it as soon as we went through!

Rocky12 · 04/07/2011 18:51

And - someone asked for examples. He was stationed in Nigeria for 1 year as they were having terrible problems with fake id's, basically anyone coming to the UK would have to pass immgration in Nigeria before they were allowed on a plane bound for the UK. This was years ago but seems a good idea

moondog · 04/07/2011 18:52

Fascinating Rocky.
Bet he saw some mad shit.

catgirl1976 · 04/07/2011 18:53

Erm. I think it was specific examples of health tourism she was asking for Rocky.

Rocky12 · 04/07/2011 18:55

Must admit - he had a fab job. So interesting but frustrating. There were three countries with immigrations issues - Jamaica, India and Nigeria. There was a programme to station officers out there. Great idea - wonder if they do it now. Could resolve a lot of issues.

catgirl1976 · 04/07/2011 18:56

Wow.

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