Charging For Ambulance AE

[FourPart]

It appears that Jeremy Hunt has proposed that non-EU Citizens should be charged for the use of ambulances and A&E services.

For once, this is a proposal I totally agree with. The arguments will be that it is the doctor's job to heal the sick & not to act as border guards deciding whether someone should pay or not. I don't see that as being a problem. After all, a train driver doesn't decide on how much the fares are. His job is simply to drive the train.

With EU Citizens the costs are already covered by the relevant Governments, so that's not a problem. However, there are many other countries where you are not allowed to enter without Travel Insurance which would cover such costs. Why shouldn't we introduce such a scheme?

There would be no shortage of insurance companies being all too eager to offer policies at the airports (probably at inflated prices, as are most things at airports).

If someone is found not to have insurance, then the question of the legality of their immigration status can be brought into question, when further enquiries can be made & if they are found not to have any right to be here, then proceedings can be put into action to expel them from the country.

Part of the policy proposal was also that refugees & asylum seekers would be exempt from these charges.

Personally, at first appearance, I don't see a problem with this proposal - although others might see it as being the thin end of the wedge to privatising the NHS. Knowing the Tories' track record, that, of course, is a cause for concern.

[Bruv]

So we will ALL have to prove who we are and where we come from at the most traumatic events in our lives ?

It's not practical, unless we all carry ID cards.............at all times and it's illegal not to.

[gmc]

Actually I'd agree as well. If I'm going abrioad the first thing I would look at is medical cover especially going to somewhere like the states.

Why should someone get free treatment on the NHS if we wouldn't get the same in their country.