'Health tourists' get bills at bedside

9:03am Wednesday 30th April 2008

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"Health tourists" are being sent home sick from a west London hospital if they can't pay up.

Under the trial at West Middlesex University Hospital, foreign patients who aren't eligible for free treatment and who can't pay are stabilized then discharged - usually within 48hours.

Under the "Stabilise and Discharge" system, instead of treating the patients then giving them a bill when they are well, they are seen by three specialists to determine when their condition has stabilised.

Once stable, they are given a quote on the cost of further treatment and if they cannot provide immediate payment - by Visa, Mastercard, debit card or cash - the patients are discharged.

In a statement, the Department of Health said: "It important that those who are not entitled to NHS services pay for any they receive.

"The government is currently reviewing access to primary and secondary care for all foreign nationals.

"In doing this we must take into account the implications of any such decisions on the key preventative and public health responsibilities of the NHS."