Needing to take ID to health apt - AIBU to think this is a sad state of affairs?

[marathonwomanintraining]

DH thinks it's reasonable. I've received a letter for an initial assessment with a MH consultant to assess for NHS psychotherapy input. Great, I've been waiting since last May, so I'm very pleased.
The letter states that I must bring my passport and a utility bill with me to show that I'm eligible for services. Now, I have both a passport and bills in my name. I'm capable and coping, so this is no issue for me.
But, many people don't have these. My mum, for example, has never had either a passport or driving licence. I know that there will be ways around it for these people. But I really believe that for some, they would see that and decide that it means they just can't attend. Considering it's assessment for secondary mental health care, the client's are potentially really vulnerable.
I'm a community physio. We do not have need to see ID before we accept client's. I have no idea if I've seen people not eligible for services over the years, but that is the problem of the GP or CCG to worry about. For us, as long as they have a GP, and an NHS number, we'll see them.
My GP referred me to this service. I have an NHS number.

What are people's thoughts? Heath tourism not a big problem, certainly not as big as people perceive it to be, same with voter fraud.

For an appointment at my local hospital I just had to take my passport, not my proof of address. Seeing as nationality has nothing to do with NHS eligibility, I found that really objectionable. I've seen estimates that 4 million people in this country have no photo ID, and at £75 for a passport it's out of reach of many.

What?! I’ve never heard of this.

That's appalling. As you say it's a CCG issue. If you are registered with an NHS GP you are eligible fir treatment.

As an ex HCP I would be deeply unhappy about the professional implications of this.

Have you tried any of the healthcare unions?

My fella has had multiple hospital appointments recently and never had to show ID. Not sure if this is a regional thing?

I'm in agreement OP, it's a measure that disproportionately impacts on those on low incomes, and vulnerable people in particular.

I also don't think it's right that healthcare workers should be put in a position to have to refuse people care. If they must do this, then they can recruit staff that have specifically applied for that role, not pass it on to people who work to improve health outcomes.

If this helps to address the problem of health tourists, then I think it is a good thing.

I'm in favour of immigration btw. But I am against people who live overseas and come to Britain for free healthcare. I know of people who have done this.

I think depending on the nature of the appointment it can sometimes be to make sure that they are talking to the appropriate person, so that they do t divulge info to someone else.
We had an appointment and there was done one rlse with the same name and similar dob. They nearly mixed us up but the photo thry had on the screen to check against stopped it.

I think depending on the nature of the appointment it can sometimes be to make sure that they are talking to the appropriate person

No it isn't! The OP states quite clearly that it's to ensure eligibility for services.

If this helps to address the problem of health tourists, then I think it is a good thing.

So you're happy to prevent UK residents who do not have a passport from accessing NHS care then?

OP - I think this is absolutely outrageous and I would raise the matter with the relevant manager at the hospital concerned, with the CCG and your MP.

I've always had to show ID (Sweden). It's part of the normal check in system for any medical appointment or procedure - not only to check eligibility but also to check they have the right patient. You just use your ID card that you get from the Police or Tax Office.

In fact it saved me once when a nurse confused me with another patient and they almost took me for the wrong biopsy.

Ah Lunde.. now you are going to stop all these liberal leftys being able to blame the racist tories for this!!!

We all have an NHS card , why cant we use this?

And health tourists...health tourism is a tiny amount...it costs more to administer...

tbh I think having a photo id is sensible and think everyone should have one.
yes passports are expensive and id cards were voted out, but in this hostile environment someone without id could find themselves on a plane 'back home' in trouble.

For people who don't have a passport I imagine some other form of ID is accepted.
I am in Canada, we are asked to show our provincial health care cards if we go for appointments, Xrays etc. Everyone has one, if you lose it you can apply for another.

DH has a lot of appointments. What he and I find particularly unreasonable is that he isn't challenged as he is clearly white, British and home counties.

Despite which he wasn't actually eligible for NHS care at one point having mainly lived abroad but no-one gave a toss because of what he looked and sounded like.

the nhs card is not an id, and hasn't been issued as a card for some years now. it's only on the electrinic records.

Heath tourism not a big problem, certainly not as big as people perceive it to be, same with voter fraud.

It doesn't matter whether it's as big as people think it is, or smaller than it could be - it still happens and it's not right.

Im aa hcp and see a large volume of health tourism.

Yabu

I had to show both ID and a utility bill and my booking in appointment in this pregnancy - I presume it was because of health tourism rather than anything else.

If this helps to address the problem of health tourists, then I think it is a good thing

I can’t imagine Heath tourism exists for MH, takes several months just to get 6 crappy cbt sessions.

I think the main issue is that British people don't have ID as a rule so it might impact negatively on people on low incomes.

Foreigners will be fine- a lot of us have both state ID and a passport.

What I don't really have are bloody bills.

Lunde Doesn't everyone in Sweden have to have an ID card though, the same as in most European countries? In the UK we don't have ID cards.

Arowana The only health tourists I've ever known are pensioners who retired to Spain and come back to the UK just to use the NHS - as they live in Spain now they're no longer eligible, nationality has nothing to do with it. I wouldn't be surprised if most "health tourists" are UK citizens who retired overseas.

Wow, never had this (in scotalnd) for any of my appointments ever.

I think it's a step in the right direction though albeit completely misjudged. If you are referred by your GP and have given them proof of eligibility that should be enough.

Are NHS eligibility cards likely to be introduced do you think?

I don’t drive and. I don’t have an upto date passport(and don’t have a spare £75 for a new one) so it would put me off.

But in Sweden isn't ID pretty standard? In the UK if you don't drive or take holidays abroad you would have no reason to have a driving licence or passport. They aren't cheap so expecting someone to get one just to attend an NHS appointment is out of order. Particularly when having one doesn't actually prove eligibility or otherwise.

On the basis that no one in their right mind (ho ho) would come to the UK just to sit on a year+ long waiting list for primary mental health care, I think this is stupid and needlessly obstructive. Personally, as a decent human being, I would rather a couple of people get healthcare they aren't entitled to than have even one person who is entitled to it be turned away due to lack of paperwork.

It's going to be very very difficult after Brexit when lots of people are not yet registered, but their EU residency has expired. Or they don't have the right documentation, say, because they are not on the bills. My husband has to show his ID or passport every time he has a scan, gets a copy of a scan, goes into hospital.