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Original poster

Baby denied treatment by NHS because family have overstayed

520 replies

wonderstuff · 14/03/2013 22:12

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/03/13/erbs-palsy-baby-sanika-ahmed-denied-treatment-_n_2866288.html

Baby will be permanently disabled, losing use of one arm if she isn't treated soon. NHS trust are refusing treatment, because although the baby was born here her fathers work visa ran out several years ago. They are being supported by an uncle. I think that the child should be treated, she is innocent and I'm really saddened by the number of people posting comments by this article saying they agree with the NHS stance on this.

What do you think?

OP posts:
mymatemax · 15/03/2013 17:07

They are not denying her care at all, just saying someone will have to pay.
If i went to another country & became ill, i would be billed.
We are very fortunate to have a fantastic national health service for those eligible to be able to use.
Thankfully It is not selective based on income, gender, disability, race or religion But it cannot treat the entire world.
Sad as it is for this child, we make choices in life as individuals & as parents and It seems they have been aware of their status in the UK for a very long time.

SisterMonicaJoan · 15/03/2013 17:13

"It's a baby" what if it where 5 babies, 10 babies, 20 babies, 50 babies of illegal immigrants? Where would you draw the line?

How would you feel if this baby received free treatment then there was no money left in the pot for an operation your DC needed? It is an over-simplification I know but illustrates that there is a line and the NHS is not a bottomless pit.

gimmeanaxe · 15/03/2013 17:17

'What are you going to cut in order to treat the children of illegal immigrants?'

MP's second homes and moats Wink

MrsDeVere · 15/03/2013 17:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Trazzletoes · 15/03/2013 17:21

soupy I'm not sure about all Legal Aid but you certainly can be eligible for legal aid for asylum and til very shortly, immigration, and judicial review without being here legally.

Certainly it makes sense for asylum and immigration matters because otherwise the people who needed legal advice the most would not be able to access it.

It's done on a means and merits test. Not on the basis of citizenship or legal residence.

Actually, thinking about it, I think it's all legal aid. I've certainly referred illegal immigrants for family and care advice. And obviously everyone is entitled to free reps for criminal matters...

NorthernLurker · 15/03/2013 17:23

Trouble is I think some people do believe its a bottomless pit.

This decision is not an attempt to punish the child because of the parents. It's because there is no money.

scottishmummy · 15/03/2013 17:24

There's statutory duty to provide emergency treatment,but not routine treatment
Unless the parents finance the treatment themselves.hospital is correctly applying rules
The child is unfortunately going to suffer. Child is not uk citizen her parents were illegal

SPBInDisguise · 15/03/2013 17:27

Why should the NHS pay for this child's treatment more than any other organisation? Why not ask the police to pay? Or BT? Or Tesco?

flatbread · 15/03/2013 17:32

flarbread No one is being callous, they are being realistic. The NHS is short of funding. What are you going to cut in order to treat the children of illegal immigrants?

I would
-cull the number of NHS managers and sack DN without pay

  • remove financial payoffs and gagging of whistleblowers
-benefits for people who are able to work and choose not to
  • people on benefits on this thread who argue that their children should not suffer for the sins of the parents, but are righteous about others

And provide free healthcare to anyone who needs it, especially any child.

Trazzletoes · 15/03/2013 17:33

Goldmandra I would put money on it being a significant enough number for the already stretched resources of the NHS. And there are estimated to be, what, a million people living illegally in the UK? Some of those will be children with significant health problems.

Yes it's horrible but there simply isn't enough money. I am all for immigration. I am all for people coming here.

However the NHS has rules. Ill ask you again - where do you draw the line? At what age? Or severity of illness? Because this girl's illness is not life- threatening. So that covers quite a lot of illnesses...

scottishmummy · 15/03/2013 17:35

Free healthcare to anyone who needs it. untenable,unrealistic,sentimental
How do you plan to finance this? Can you realistically predict number of pts?
It's all v well doing bus stop whom,but nhs needs managers it needs managed.it has limited amount if money

NorthernLurker · 15/03/2013 17:36

'provide free healthcare to anyone who needs it, especially any child'

Worldwide? You're posting nonsense now.

SPBInDisguise · 15/03/2013 17:37

How about IVF for illegal immingrants flatbread?

NorthernLurker · 15/03/2013 17:38

I am a NHS manager btw. Believe me you don't want to cull me Grin You want me where I am.

SPBInDisguise · 15/03/2013 17:40

Well if you cull all the NHS managers then it really will be a free for all wrt treatment. Oh and clinicians. And treatment they offer - why bother with evidence? And guidelines and best practice around infection control. But does any of that stuff actually, really matter?

scottishmummy · 15/03/2013 17:41

Flatbread if you feel so strongly make a standing order to your local nhs trust
You could make additional contributions so anyone,everyone can get free healthcare
If you're so committed,you can make additional contribution for any ward.they'll be delighted to accept

Nancy66 · 15/03/2013 17:42

I'm pretty sure that overstayers aren't classed as 'illegal'

NotADragonOfSoup · 15/03/2013 17:43

flatbread those things may go some small way towards stopping the NHS having to shut A&E and maternity wards and cut services. It won't fund free healthcare for anyone who wants it.

SPBInDisguise · 15/03/2013 17:43

the op has said she'll find the money from somewhere for the baby's treatment

Trazzletoes · 15/03/2013 17:43

Nancy they absolutely most certainly are. Someone who has overstayed their visa has little right to stay in the uk as someone who never had a visa. Both are illegal.

Viviennemary · 15/03/2013 17:44

The point is that this country is so generous in it's provision of services people think it's free. it isn't free. There is no free dental treatment, free prescriptions, free NHS treatment, free legal aid. It all has to be paid for.

aufaniae · 15/03/2013 17:49

Yes of course she should be offered treatment, especially if she was born here.

monkeysbignuts · 15/03/2013 17:50

The nhs are not refusing to treat the baby but they are asking the family to foot the bill.
I may be unpopular but I do think the nhs is right. We pay national insurance towards the nhs and if I was in America and something happened requiring me to have an op I would also have to pay (unless I had insurance etc)
The point is that other countries would ask for payment yet our nhs which is free to British nationals is expected to do it for free? Why should the nhs pay out for an operation that costs 10, 000+ to people who are illegal in this country. And the fact that they have the ordacity to be illegal and take the nhs to court Shock

AlistairSim · 15/03/2013 17:50

I totally get what you're saying, nothern/expat etc but I think that until the family are actually on a plane home, the UK should have a duty of care to the baby.

scottishmummy · 15/03/2013 17:51

Born here to illegal immigrants, child not uk citizen