The migrants and the non-EU foreigners would now be charged for using the services of NHS, the services also includes the A&E care and the GP services, under the latest plans that has been drawn up by the UK government.
Under the new plans, the patients from non EU countries will now be charged for the non urgent and urgent care that includes x-rays, blood tests and the paramedic care.
However according the official statement from the government, the vulnerable groups would continue to get exemption from charging.
The visitors from the non-EU nations should presently pay the so called Immigration Health Surcharge as part of the application for the visa, and the recent proposal will be an expansion of these regulations
According to the Health Department, the IHS has already formed around 100 million pounds in the savings.
According to Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary, who announced the proposals said that they want to make sure that each one should make good contribution to the services, by increasing the charges for making sure that the visitors are paying for the care they are receiving.
He also said that the government of the UK was first to start the strict steps to slow down on migrant’s access to the NHS, and these reforms would help them recover around 500 million pounds each year for putting back them in for providing frontline care of patients.
One of the values of the NHS is that the healthcare is free when required and restricting the access will change that. The practicing is under huge employees pressure and resource, so it is crucial for the GPs and the teams don’t find themselves acting as the immigration control and being burdened with even much bureaucracy. This was told by the honorary secretary for the Royal College of GPs, Professor Nigel Mathers.
The consultations on the proposals would be started on Monday.
