[Correspondence] Changes to NHS charges: what does this mean for our most vulnerable patients?

August, 2017, saw the introduction of new regulations on health-care charges to migrants and overseas visitors in England.1 Patients who are unable to prove entitlement to free care will receive an estimated treatment bill, which must be fully paid before receipt of care, and might increase exponentially. Urgent treatment, as defined by the treating clinician, should be provided and billed for afterwards. These regulations are the outcome of only 418 responses obtained by the Department of Health from their consultation exploring the extension of charging overseas visitors and migrants who use the National Health Service (NHS).
Source: LANCET - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research