Hospital recovers three times more cash from foreign visitors since demanding they show ID
Clampdown on health tourism has been praised by Jeremy Hunt
A PIONEERING scheme that demands all patients show ID before getting treatment has seen a hospital recover nearly three times more cash from foreign visitors.
The clampdown on health tourism by Peterborough and Stamford NHS Trust was praised by Jeremy Hunt.
Peterborough and Stamford was the first trust in England to demand everyone proves their entitlement to non-emergency care.
All appointment letters are sent with clear instructions telling patients they must take their passport, visa or other proof of residency with them to hospital.
Once accepted, they can continue to get care without further checks.
Current rules say EU nations should be billed for treatment citizens receive. Non-EU citizens should pay themselves.
Hospital bosses in Peterborough say its scheme has boosted income by more than £150,000 each year since its introduction in May 2013.
Before the clampdown, managers recovered only 37 per cent of chargeable overseas visitors’ income.
Now the figure is 95 per cent.