Can they have it both ways - BMA

Yes it’s interesting thinking what should be done with an unforeseen accident but there’s also the person admitted in terrible pain, the woman in labour. In cases like this surely staff have to just get on and treat them and then deal with payment afterwards? With asylum seekers and people without leave to remain I don’t see how their governments could be billed - well you could bill Syria but you’d be wasting your time.

Luckygirl totally agree, but in those circumstances (traffic accident, assault or even terrorist incident) they should be treated and the relevant government billed.

I would make a distinction between unforeseen accidents, when in all humanity someone should be treated, and health tourism.

I do not believe anyone should be treated on the NHS unless they are paid into the system.
However I think there is a huge issue in that it is taking a lot of resources to try and claw back monies owed.
I am beginning to think that we are heading towards having national identity cards with some kind of chip/fingerprint system.

I think this is political grandstanding isn’t it? Part of the very unhappy ongoing relationship between the doctors and the government over funding issues. In reality it isn’t the doctors who determine eligibility but an admin member of staff. What the government needs to do if it is cost effective is come up with some system to determine who is eligible or not. A national photo ID card could incorporate this information and be used for many many other purposes eg voting, benefit entitlement, right to be employed etc etc The whole issue is complex and really needs thinking through. I actually don’t know what the Government does have in place and what hospitals are supposed to do at the moment. Obviously the government won’t take the slightest notice of this conference motion.

Sorry but it is our NHS, we contribute to it through NI and taxes so although it is "free at point of delivery" it is technically not free.

I have paid when abroad, broken arm, severe migraine attack and chest infection, would not occur to me not to pay. (All of these in EU countries, they were not interested in EHIC card)

I really can't understand this at all. The NHS (for which we all contribute) is struggling and yet they have decided not to charge those who have come from abroad and do not qualify. It beggars belief . I agree with Urmstongran it is not an International Health Service. I wonder how much this will actually cost?

I read it with a mounting feeling of anger.
NO NO NO

500 delegates at the BMA conference in Belfast voted not to charge for non residents. I don’t know how many votes in total were called so not sure whether this was actually carried.

That said (a) we have a NHS not an international health service and (b) surely the doctors are not accountants and managers/government should decide policy - not the medics!