Health Tourism

[XM5ER]

Hoofy said:

Out of interest, what happens if he doesn't have any of that, like, at a guess, this person in the OP?

No idea. Good question. What do the police in France do if they nick you for speeding and you don't have a way to pay your on the spot fine?

[Captain Ahab]

XM5ER said:

No idea. Good question. What do the police in France do if they nick you for speeding and you don't have a way to pay your on the spot fine?

They will take you to a cashpoint to get cash for the fine and if you still can't pay they impound your car until you can pay.

[anonymous-user]

FredClogs said:

Nearly a full page and not one of you has said "I'm not a racist but..." Come on guys, at least try.

Oh good, the self appointed PH racism police have arrived. If even Matt Nunn can't find something to be offended about on a thread about Health Tourism we really arn't trying hard enough.

[anonymous-user]

MGJohn said:

fblm said:

MGJohn said:

Does the resultant issue qualify automatically for UK Citizenship?

Only if one of the parents are 'settled' in the UK. Presumably a father settled in the UK can be arranged for a few quid?

Oh gawd. That's cheered me up no end.

The fun bit for me at least is if you're British and resident outside the EU you can use the NHS like everyone else but will be charged 150% of the cost!

[Paul Dishman]

Du1point8 said:

XM5ER said:

fido said:

Except not all countries have a free health service. See how far the E111 gets you in some of the more backward parts of the EU.

Like France.

Yep... cost me €60 for eye drops in France when out skiing as I got an irritated eye and couldn't see... I had to pay up front to get seen otherwise I had to walk away, even with the EHIC/E111.

Never seen that happen here.

How would you see that happening here unless you worked in a surgery or a pharmacy?

[Hoofy]

Captain Ahab said:

XM5ER said:

No idea. Good question. What do the police in France do if they nick you for speeding and you don't have a way to pay your on the spot fine?

They will take you to a cashpoint to get cash for the fine and if you still can't pay they impound your car until you can pay.

What happens if you don't have a car? Do they impound your shoes?

[Du1point8]

Paul Dishman said:

Du1point8 said:

XM5ER said:

fido said:

Except not all countries have a free health service. See how far the E111 gets you in some of the more backward parts of the EU.

Like France.

Yep... cost me €60 for eye drops in France when out skiing as I got an irritated eye and couldn't see... I had to pay up front to get seen otherwise I had to walk away, even with the EHIC/E111.

Never seen that happen here.

How would you see that happening here unless you worked in a surgery or a pharmacy?

Not sure what you mean. I had to pay first before I could be seen and that covered the drops for the eyes.

[Foppo]

My wife had to pay for treatment in France.She claimed on her insurance and got halve the money back.I don't really know what the E111 is for if you have to pay up front in France.Any emergency abroad I would hope there will be help just be carefull where you travel to.

[RYH64E]

Du1point8 said:

Not sure what you mean. I had to pay first before I could be seen and that covered the drops for the eyes.

Most of us are reasonable people who have both the means and willingness to pay, but what do you do when someone turns up at A&E with a serious medical condition and no money, no credit cards, no ID and no intention of paying? Does anyone really believe that an NHS doctor would turn them away?

[Du1point8]

RYH64E said:

Du1point8 said:

Not sure what you mean. I had to pay first before I could be seen and that covered the drops for the eyes.

Most of us are reasonable people who have both the means and willingness to pay, but what do you do when someone turns up at A&E with a serious medical condition and no money, no credit cards, no ID and no intention of paying? Does anyone really believe that an NHS doctor would turn them away?

No really thats why the NHS is massively in the crap... Come across from any EU country and the UK happily treats you and hasn't a chance in hell of getting the money back.

Part of me wishes they would, that you have to be UK citizen or have a means to identify yourself as living here (legally) but I only want that as I don't like being taken advantage of.

Damn the brits and their help everyone attitude.

[s2art]

Just how difficult would it be to include a check on medical cover at passport control? No cover, no entry.

[RYH64E]

Du1point8 said:

No really thats why the NHS is massively in the crap... Come across from any EU country and the UK happily treats you and hasn't a chance in hell of getting the money back.

Part of me wishes they would, that you have to be UK citizen or have a means to identify yourself as living here (legally) but I only want that as I don't like being taken advantage of.

Damn the brits and their help everyone attitude.

I'd be interested to know how other EU countries such as France and Germany cope with the problem, do they turn seriously ill and possibly dying people away from hospital?

[ghamer]

s2art said:

Just how difficult would it be to include a check on medical cover at passport control? No cover, no entry.

I like that,but can't be done.Free movement and all that jazz.


Non EU though .....

[Du1point8]

RYH64E said:

Du1point8 said:

No really thats why the NHS is massively in the crap... Come across from any EU country and the UK happily treats you and hasn't a chance in hell of getting the money back.

Part of me wishes they would, that you have to be UK citizen or have a means to identify yourself as living here (legally) but I only want that as I don't like being taken advantage of.

Damn the brits and their help everyone attitude.

I'd be interested to know how other EU countries such as France and Germany cope with the problem, do they turn seriously ill and possibly dying people away from hospital?

I was refused treatment to my eye unless I paid upfront, think spain is the same for UK folk.

[RYH64E]

Du1point8 said:

I was refused treatment to my eye unless I paid upfront, think spain is the same for UK folk.

I wasn't thinking of a scenario where someone presented with a very minor ailment...

[myvision]

It's not just health tourism.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3095906/Hu...

[James P]

Du1point8 said:

RYH64E said:

Du1point8 said:

Not sure what you mean. I had to pay first before I could be seen and that covered the drops for the eyes.

Most of us are reasonable people who have both the means and willingness to pay, but what do you do when someone turns up at A&E with a serious medical condition and no money, no credit cards, no ID and no intention of paying? Does anyone really believe that an NHS doctor would turn them away?

No really thats why the NHS is massively in the crap... Come across from any EU country and the UK happily treats you and hasn't a chance in hell of getting the money back.

Part of me wishes they would, that you have to be UK citizen or have a means to identify yourself as living here (legally) but I only want that as I don't like being taken advantage of.

Damn the brits and their help everyone attitude.

I would be happy with a system that does its best to stop non EU health tourists at point of entry (the carrier being responsible for the return journey as they should have checked status before departure) and EU nationals being entitled to whatever they would receive in their country of residence. If their own country chooses not to provide something, why should another?

[Finlandia]

In Sweden this is very interesting.
If you are a Swedish resident you get treated but you need to pay a fee, roughly 150sek to see a GP, 300sek to have a ride in ambulance, 100sek a day on a hospital ward and so on. If you are a EU citizen, you have to pay the real prices of the treatment (don't think it's upfront though), but, if you are illegally in the country, think illegal immigrant who is hiding from immigration police, then you are treated for free!

[jas xjr]

BuzzBravado said:

On the flip side my mate is so fedup with NHS dentist and the private costs here that he goes to Poland for dental work. He does pay for it though, which is the crucial difference.

How much cheaper is it?

Just to take this thread to a tangent in true pH style,I am in hospital at the moment. At a rough guess I would say 50% of the staff I have dealt with are from abroad. Philippines, Portugal,India,Pakistan,polish, Spanish (she was very nice) nationals that I have dealt with up to now.
Please excuse me if I am not making sense,on medication

Edited by jas xjr on Tuesday 26th May 00:50

[BlackLabel]

"Nigerian mother let off £145,000 NHS bill after birth of quins"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/118324...