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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be proud that the NHS gives free emergency work

39 replies

Ellreejeee · 01/11/2015 09:45

All this talk about charging people and daily mail hate about how awful it is. But actually I think its a great thing to do, and sets a good example for other countries.

Especially with budget airlines someone who can afford to fly to the uk, can still be flat broke. Ive bought flights for less than most short rail journeys in the uk! So lots of these people could be very van u able.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34685022

OP posts:
Leavingsosoon · 01/11/2015 09:46

DH works in the NHS and does reckon there are 'health tourists' mind ...

Original poster
Ellreejeee · 01/11/2015 09:48

There probabably is a few tourists, but like benefits cheats its very very small and its a price im happy to pay to make sure all get good treatment.

OP posts:
PurpleWithRed · 01/11/2015 09:49

I'm not sure what your second paragraph means. But actually I do agree we should be giving free treatment for genuine unexpected emergencies. The difficulty is in weeding out the genuine emergencies and in collecting payment from the rest.

80sWaistcoat · 01/11/2015 09:50

No, they should have insurance. If a uk resident goes to a and e in a non eu country they pay. It's costing someone money. They shouldn't be turfed out but patients should pay unless there's a reciprocal agreement.

Leavingsosoon · 01/11/2015 09:50

Well, DH reckons it isn't a small number.

I don't feel I can pass an opinion, really.

Original poster
Ellreejeee · 01/11/2015 09:55

Ok you have insider information. What percentage would he say it is? Where does he work?

OP posts:
TheFairyCaravan · 01/11/2015 09:55

The NHS isn't a bottomless pit of money.

DS2(18) broke his arm at uni 3 weeks ago. He went to A&E with a flatmate who is on an exchange program from America, she was gobsmacked that we don't have to provide any documents to show that we're British and anyone can get it free.

I do think that people should have insurance and the money should be claimed.

Leavingsosoon · 01/11/2015 09:57

I honestly couldn't tell you Ellree; that's largely why I don't feel I can give an opinion on this as I'm not exactly on the inside but the inside once removed if you like :)

I do have concerns about the NHS and where it will ultimately lead us to but another thread, another day.

Schrodingersmum · 01/11/2015 10:00

I may be shot down here but I have a suicidal child waiting as many kids have to for access to limited mental health services, as my husband pays tax and lots of it! I would rather my DD could access the services our tax funds before she kills herself (weve been waiting 2 years) than fund tourist health care

We have lived abroad and paid when we used a&e and visited our gp and I don't see the problem with doing the same here

I am a retired nurse and have seen the abuse from the inside, its rife! One anaesthetist I worked with flew her mum in from Egypt for a free coronary bypass curtesy of the nhs

And before anyone says well just go private, we have private healthcare but you cannot access childrens mental health privately but only via the NHS, where we just go round in circles

BMW6 · 01/11/2015 10:29

YABU. It is not the International Health Service. Fees should be paid up front as in France, Germany and Scandinavia.

VulcanWoman · 01/11/2015 10:39

It needs to be stopped or else we'll lose the NHS.

IndridCold · 01/11/2015 10:44

It is a wonderful service, and we should be proud but it isn't free, it costs a huge amount of money.

There is increasing evidence that organised health tourism is growing and there does need to be a method implemented to get the money back from visitors for treatment, if they have paid nothing into the system. Either from them personally, or from their own government.

I don't believe the doctors should have to do this themselves.

canyou · 01/11/2015 10:45

I have at A&E handed over my E111 card and my private health insurance card to A&E in a large London hosp recently only to have it handed back with the words 'You dont need those here' ShockConfused I was happy with the treatment DD got but knew I should pay for it I always have travel insurance even going from Irl to UK
MyAunt was disgusted and shocked when she visited A&E in Irl got treatment and left with no bill only to find out the HSE had sent the Euro 120 bill to her DR in the UK.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 01/11/2015 10:48

bit of a theme going on on MN at the moment here Hmm

LunchpackOfNotreDame · 01/11/2015 10:53

People who live in eu countries should have an ehic and we should claim for any and all treatment provided to non uk nationals.

The nhs is struggling, giving away freebies isn't going to help

Atenco · 01/11/2015 12:09

You should be proud of the NHS, it is a very caring and intelligent attitude. Caring because you do not turn away sick or injured people on the basis of money and intelligent because taking the business out of health-care is much more rational and cheaper in the long run.

I remember in my youth in Canada seeing people arrriving at a & e being asked for proof of insurance, I thought it was the most disgusting thing I ever saw.

The NHS attended my broken wrist and didn't charge me a penny, when it was an emergency. I was charged for the follow up care.

I really don't know how you can arrange to fly into a country with an emergency

Sedona123 · 01/11/2015 14:35

YABU.

The NHS should not be the International Health Service available to anyone who can get a cheap flight here. If hospitals and doctor's surgeries were to check for E111 cards/health insurance, and claim the money, there would be more money for nurses. This would also at least greatly reduce the amount of health tourists, which would ease some waiting lists.

AliceTerrapin · 01/11/2015 16:05

We had a terrible time trying to pay. Having not paid tax or lived there for 14 years, when he was admitted we clearly told them we were not entitled. The admin told us that we needed to lie on the paperwork to save us having to pay. There was one woman in charge of the whole borough international charging and she was on holiday. We refused to accept it (after they did open heart surgery) and luckily she came back from leave and we payed the 7k. The thing is, we have global insurance so it made no difference to us. But getting them to charge was a nightmare. I got called hoity toity by the admin woman!

I think there are good and bad things about the nhs having lived in so many places to compare. Life saving and acute care is amazing. The fact everyone is treated the same is great. But the hospitals and care isn't any better than other places and worse than many. But it is better than nothing and created with the very best of intentions.

VimFuego101 · 01/11/2015 16:11

YABU. NHS funds are limited and they are supposed to charge those who do not have a right to free treatment.

Witchend · 01/11/2015 16:16

I have mixed feelings. I think genuine emergencies should always be able to be treated without discussion on who will pay.

However I have a friend who works as an air hostess and you do get people who are deliberately travelling to the UK to use the NHS because it's cheaper to travel in then get it treated in their own country.
I sympathise with their situation but also I see friends who are being refused medications /referrals on money grounds and the NHS isn't a bottomless pit.

I also have lack of sympathy for people who don't take out insurance because they're relying on the rest of us to pick up the tab.

I don't think there's a right nor a simple answer.

SilentlyScreamingAgain · 01/11/2015 16:23

I'm another Irish national with decent health insurance who was ready, willing and able to pay but I walked out after an hour and a half of no one being prepared to take my money. It's a mad system you have.

RhodaBull · 01/11/2015 16:29

The thing is, the NHS is NOT free. It is paid for through taxes paid by those in the UK. If it were free for everyone worldwide, well, it would just finish.

Also, it is one thing to treat someone with a broken leg or heart attack - but quite another if people travel with the intention of accessing free treatment. There was a recent case of a woman with an impending multiple birth (quins) who came here late in pregnancy. It cost the NHS £200K.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 01/11/2015 16:32

YABU

The NHS seems to be on its knees, charging tourists would be a way to get some money back in, rather than just from the UK tax payer.

BackforGood · 01/11/2015 16:32

If I go to another country, I have to take out insurance to cover any unexpected medical costs - it seems fair and reasonable that anyone traveling to this country does the same, to me.
I can't see a logical reason why this doesn't already happen, tbh.

Lauren15 · 01/11/2015 16:38

Sorry at the end of the day someone will have to pick up the tab and I don't think it should be the UK taxpayer. Healthcare costs money. The NHS is free at the point of use but UK residents pay for it through their taxes. Why should a visitor get it for nothing? I'm not sure to whom you think it is setting a good example. Who is going to pay for your free treatment in a private hospital in the U.S.- the shareholders? My dh had a medical emergency in the US recently and sat in agony waiting for his company to send conformation he was covered before the receptionist would book him in. I can understand why - if they treated people who couldn't pay, they'd go bankrupt. Ironically the week before, I went to A and E for the first time in my life. I was sitting close to the reception and at least half the people who came in were foreigners (some EU). None were asked to prove they were eligible for free treatment, including a group of Chinese girls. Think how much money the NHS must spend on people like this.
If a non-EU citizen applies for a Schengen visa, they must prove they have adequate medical insurance. Travel insurance for a couple of weeks doesn't cost much. I don't know why they UK doesn't ask for this.