NHS is failing to recover bills from overseas patients, say MPs

The system for recovering money from overseas patients who use the NHS is chaotic, say MPs.

In a critical report, MPs from the Commons public accounts committee said they were not confident the Department of Health (DH) is taking effective action to recover money from people who leave the NHS with unpaid bills.

It said the health service was failing to identify patients who should be charged, while the government was failing to get money back from European states where reciprocal agreements are in place. In 2014-15, the UK recovered £50 million from these countries, but paid out £675 million.

Action plan needed

The government has a target to recover up to £500 million a year by 2017-18 for treatment of overseas patients, and MPs have given the DH until June to draw up an action plan. 

Yet the report also warned that forcing all patients to show their passports or another form of identification, as introduced by some providers, could penalise people who do not have the documents but are eligible for free NHS care.

Put patients first

Healthcare professionals say any measures should not jeopardise patient care or put staff under more pressure.

British Medical Association chair Mark Porter recognised it was important to recover costs, but added: ‘Any charging systems should not prevent sick and vulnerable patients from receiving necessary care, otherwise there may be serious consequences for their health and that of the public in general.’

A DH spokesperson said: ‘We will be announcing further steps very shortly to recover up to £500 million a year by the middle of this parliament.’

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