Hospitals write foreign debt

25 January 2012 stand 20: 34 GMT by Jane Bradley studies producer, BBC London in total, £ 7. 6 m comes out of 33 NHS trusts in the region, since 2009

Hospitals have learned written off until 96% of what they not entitled to free NHS care are due from foreign patients, has London BBC London.

A freedom of information request showed that Newham wrote hospital trust all but 4% which it had been last year into account.

The hospital trust said that it was too heavy to costs be recovered, if foreign patients died or were failed asylum seekers.

In total, £ 7. 6 m was from 33 NHS trusts in the region since 2009 written off.

The trust is a total £ 26 m of the patients which owe £ 18. 4 m continues to actively search for.

Further wrote the main story Newham Hospital wrote from £ 345,000 from £ 358, 000Basildon and Thurrock wrote from £ 47,000 from £ 117, 000Hillingdon hospital from £ 335,000 £ 660, 000Luton and Dunstable wrote from £ 2,000 from £ 85, 000South London wrote from £ 29,000 from £ 481.000

All figures refer to 2010-11

All hospitals are required, for money owed for the treatment of these patients to restore.

The figures show that there are large differences between hospitals.

During the East London hospital trust wrote most of what it was last year due to ineligible foreign patients West Middlesex Hospital wrote only 3%.

East London hospital trust said: "there are some cases where it is not possible or is difficult, costs, such as when a patient dies failed asylum seekers or when they leave the UK."

NHS health care is free for everyone who needs treatment emergency, but bent patients, residing outside the European Union is to pay for services, with some exceptions.

"Health tourist" could someone, that specifically for free health care UK visited, or they can here already living and try to pay their invoice to avoid.

A senior doctor at a large hospital of London, who wanted to be identified, said that the problem of the outstanding debt was much higher than official figures show.

'Cannot afford to not'

"It's probably about three or four times, the figure," he said.

"These patients know someone in this country probably." "Very often they come only plane, to the first A & E Department, which deals with this kind of State and they know that they are treated, because they are very sick."

He added: "I think we can afford it?" "No, I think we can."

Among other things, Kings College have hospital from £ 343.000 last year.

A spokesman said: "we give patients enough time and opportunity, we prove that it entitled to free treatment."

"Under no circumstances treatment fees would be waived, if proof of status is not received."

Mercedes Abelando, 69, lives in South London but originally from Uruguay and not qualified for free NHS treatment, says that she was treated at the hospital while she was an illegal migrants.

Mercedes Abelando said that they could not afford to pay for treatment

She told BBC London, that they do not know that she would have to pay until after the treatment, she received an invoice for medical care.

"I went to the hospital and I told them that I not that kind of money and I could not pay," she said.

"The person who saw me at the hospital said to me: 'ok, that is good';" took the letter and I have not heard from them since.

"I was surprised, but I couldn't pay does not in any case."

Various hospital trusts, who had written off large amounts of their debts, said chasing the money often difficult when patients leave the country and sums were only written down when had exhausted all options to pursue.

There are no official figures, which some suspect to measure is a problem that is under the radar.

Some believe however, that "health tourists" there are not and are a sensational reports phenomenon.

"Read the main story

, which we cannot afford to an international health care, a free treatment for all"

Naomi Hartree, a volunteer on the project in London end quote Anne Milton Health Minister, a clinic in East London of the vulnerable populations helps such migrants and asylum seekers, health care/healthcare access, says that foreign patients are over-policed.

"We have documented many cases in which people of the hospital treatment shot have been because they are perceived to health tourists, and they are entitled to health care, people," she said.

Project London also argued that debt of foreign patients is chasing more expensive than to write it off.

Immigration powers introduced in November 2011 mean overseas patients who cannot enter debts which may be NHS £ 1,000 or more, or remain in the United Kingdom, until the debt is paid.

The Interior Ministry has said, it was still too early to see what impact it had.

In the meantime the Government access to health care studying patients NHS currently overseas.

It is expected, shall report to Minister in the next few months.

Health Minister Anne Milton said: "Hospitals meets appropriate measures to overseas recover any debt patients."

"NHS has endangered the obligation immediately everyone which life or long-term health is, but not to an international health care, we must free treatment for all,."

Source BBC

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