The Patients Association position statement on Migrant Access to the NHS

25 Feb 2014 12:44 PM

Ever since the foundation of the NHS in 1948, there has been an underlying ethos that good quality healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth or status. Indeed, when the NHS was launched by Aneurin Bevan, the system was based upon three core principles:

·         that it meet the needs of everyone

·         that it be free at the point of delivery

·         that it be based on clinical need, not ability to pay

These three principles have guided the development of the NHS for more than 60 years and the Patients Association believes that these should remain at the heart of the NHS.

In recent years concern has been raised that the NHS is being abused by those who are not resident in the UK. Under current rules, migrants are able to access free NHS care immediately or soon after arrival in the UK, leaving the NHS open to abuse in some cases. The Department of Health believes that Government intervention is necessary to better regulate non-EEA migrant access to publicly funded healthcare services in the UK.

In response to this problem, the Department of Health would like to set a new qualifying test for determining non-EEA migrants’ entitlement to free NHS care. Migrants who do not meet this test will be chargeable for the costs of their healthcare, subject to some exceptions. Chargeable migrants, who are not otherwise exempt, will be required to pay an immigration health surcharge – a form of NHS enrolment fee - at the same time as they make an application for leave to enter or remain in the UK. The Government intends for a surcharge to be set at around £150 per annum for Tier 4 visa applicants and £200 per annum for other visa applicants that are chargeable under this policy.

These proposals respond to longstanding public concern that the current rules regulating access to NHS services are both too generous, particularly when compared with wider international practice, and poorly applied.

Whilst the Patients Association strongly believes that access to healthcare should be free at the point of delivery, we also believe that the system should be fair and in the best interest of all patients. We therefore believe that it is appropriate, and right, for migrants to make a relatively small financial contribution to the NHS treatment that they receive.