NHS to Charge Overseas Patient Upfront for Non-Urgent Treatments

The NHS is cracking down on overseas patient treatments in the UK. Hospitals will be legally required to charge overseas patients for any non-urgent treatments starting April. The rule also requires hospitals to ask patients to present passports and identity documents before receiving most kinds of treatment.

Non-urgent treatments include hip or knee surgery, cataract removal, inguinal hernia surgery, and other medications and scans. Emergency care will still be made available and free for anyone in the country.

Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt comments:

“We have no problem with overseas visitors using our NHS – as long as they make a fair contribution, just as the British taxpayer does. So today we are announcing plans to change the law which means those who aren’t eligible for free care will be asked to pay upfront for non-urgent treatment.”

Further changes for the NHS is expected within the year as the UK government aims to limit the cost of treating overseas patients.