Current Affairs EU In or Out

[roydo]

That is wrong I was waiting to see a top kidney specialist I was diagnosed with a life threating condition a tumour on my kidney I had asked for a 2nd opinion referral from my GP - I was kept waiting an age which you would expect on the NHS
Out came a family of people from the USA I was sat a yard away they got a credit card out to pay for his services he told them to put it away then they were amazed how cheap the medication was on the prescription!
I went in and got the dreaded news by a specialist who saved my life, but simply why can't they have a credit card machine for this kind of thing or even if you do not turn up , and then return pay the fine etc like drunks in A&E etc every little helps!

Maybe they lived and worked in the UK Joe?

 

[Joey66]

Maybe they lived and worked in the UK Joe?

No deffo on holiday I am nosey, at the time I was not bothered as it must have been a sick child all I wanted was the correct diagnosis, and still see the same specialist I thanked him for saving my life many times still see him every 6 months
He's a great guy IMO!

 

[roydo]

No deffo on holiday I am nosey, at the time I was not bothered as it must have been a sick child all I wanted was the correct diagnosis, and still see the same specialist I thanked him for saving my life many times still see him every 6 months
He's a great guy IMO!

Good to hear mate.

 

[The Esk]

That is wrong I was waiting to see a top kidney specialist I was diagnosed with a life threating condition a tumour on my kidney I had asked for a 2nd opinion referral from my GP - I was kept waiting an age which you would expect on the NHS
Out came a family of people from the USA I was sat a yard away they got a credit card out to pay for his services he told them to put it away then they were amazed how cheap the medication was on the prescription!
I went in and got the dreaded news by a specialist who saved my life, but simply why can't they have a credit card machine for this kind of thing or even if you do not turn up , and then return pay the fine etc like drunks in A&E etc every little helps!

With respect Joey, I am not wrong. I have in the last five years consulted for two think tanks and advised both Hunt and Burnham on the issue of health tourism.

In the event you have just described the 'tariff' for whatever treatment the Americans received is invoiced by the trust's administration either to the patients insurers or the US government. Almost all health trusts have a 'non resident patient fee recovery officer'. It is in the interests of each trust to recover the fees due as in the event of non recovery the cost is born by the trust.

Fee recovery rates differ hugely from trust to trust.


PS congratulations on coming through your illness successfully

 

[Toffeelover]

With respect Joey, I am not wrong. I have in the last five years consulted for two think tanks and advised both Hunt and Burnham on the issue of health tourism.

In the event you have just described the 'tariff' for whatever treatment the Americans received is invoiced by the trust's administration either to the patients insurers or the US government. Almost all health trusts have a 'non resident patient fee recovery officer'. It is in the interests of each trust to recover the fees due as in the event of non recovery the cost is born by the trust.

Fee recovery rates differ hugely from trust to trust.


PS congratulations on coming through your illness successfully

But Esk, there are a number who just leave the country and no payment is ever made. As for your post, all very wellissuing invoices but what are the stats for payments and outstanding debts?

 

[peteblue]

Free use of the national health service is based on residency not nationality. Quite simply if you are ordinarily resident in the UK you are entitled to free health care.

If you are not normally resident in the UK you are still entitled to health care with the patient's normal country of residence footing the bill assuming there's a health care agreement between both countries.

I know mate, I didn't add Eu national or Swiss National or the application form which asks for address etc, I typed it a bit quick.......

 

[The Esk]

But Esk, there are a number who just leave the country and no payment is ever made. As for your post, all very wellissuing invoices but what are the stats for payments and outstanding debts?

The biggest issue is identifying those not ordinarily resident. Where abuse does occur often patients are given UK addresses to use when entering the health system.

The idea of using passports was first muted in 2013. Both the BMA and the RCN immediately resisted and said they would not participate in such a scheme as they were health professionals not immigration officers. A position I agree with.

Recovery rates ranged from less than 30% to near 90%

 

[Toffeelover]

The biggest issue is identifying those not ordinarily resident. Where abuse does occur often patients are given addresses to use when entering the health system.

The idea of using passports was first muted in 2013. Both the BMA and the RCN immediately resisted and said they would not participate in such a scheme as they were health professionals not immigration officers. A position I agree with.

Recovery rates ranged from less than 30% to near 90%

When on holiday in the states, I was taken ill and went to a clinic. Before any examination or treatment I had to hand over CC details!

 

[The Esk]

When on holiday in the states, I was taken ill and went to a clinic. Before any examination or treatment I had to hand over CC details!

Yes, that happens in several European countries also.

 

[Joey66]

With respect Joey, I am not wrong. I have in the last five years consulted for two think tanks and advised both Hunt and Burnham on the issue of health tourism.

In the event you have just described the 'tariff' for whatever treatment the Americans received is invoiced by the trust's administration either to the patients insurers or the US government. Almost all health trusts have a 'non resident patient fee recovery officer'. It is in the interests of each trust to recover the fees due as in the event of non recovery the cost is born by the trust.

Fee recovery rates differ hugely from trust to trust.


PS congratulations on coming through your illness successfully

In with Andy the Evertonian hey I voted for him in the first labour leadership still say a credit card machine is a good idea for what I mentioned - anyway thanks for your kind remarks

 

[Toffeelover]

Yes, that happens in several European countries also.

So the question is, why not here.

 

[roydo]

Would rather live in a country that folk wanted to come to rather than one I wanted to leave; with a few checks and balances, granted.

 

[Ruairi77]

So the question is, why not here.

I haven't spent a long period of time in England since I was a kid. Not familiar with the NHS inner workings. Is there no private hospitals? No option to pay through the nose to avoid the hassle of going public? Surely there are places you can just give a cc?
Oh for a public health system

 

[roydo]

I haven't spent a long period of time in England since I was a kid. Not familiar with the NHS inner workings. Is there no private hospitals? No option to pay through the nose to avoid the hassle of going public? Surely there are places you can just give a cc?
Oh for a public health system

Yeah, there are private hospitals. I have used one for a non urgent quite simple bloke related op.

Bupa have hospitals in most large towns and cities. Other private hospitals are available,

 

[The Esk]

So the question is, why not here.

Because it's totally against the founding principles of the NHS - meet the need of everyone, free at the point of delivery and is based on clinical need not the ability to pay.

It is singularly what sets our nation apart from all others, our greatest national achievement and institution.