New charging system announced for foreign visitors receiving NHS care

The Department of Health is introducing new rules in April 2017 to help to recover the cost of healthcare provided to patients from outside the UK.

New regulations will require all hospitals to check upfront whether patients are eligible for free NHS treatment, with those who are ineligible set to be charged upfront for any non-urgent planned care they receive.

Hospitals and NHS bodies will also be required to identify and flag a patient's chargeable status to help other parts of the NHS more easily recoup costs wherever charges apply.

These new steps will help the government to meet its stated goal of recovering up to £500 million a year from overseas visitors who are not eligible for free care.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "We have no problem with overseas visitors using our NHS – as long as they make a fair contribution, just as the British taxpayer does."

NHS organisations will now receive support and guidance to help them prepare for the introduction of this new system, with NHS Improvement set to work intensively with trusts that have the most potential to recover costs.

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