Migrants will have to pay at A&E – and all patients will have to prove they are not foreigners to get free NHS treatment

‘Patients admitted to hospital in an emergency will have to prove they are not migrants under government plans to charge foreigners to use the NHS.

As part of proposals to recoup up to £500m from visitors from outside the European Union who use the NHS, hospitals will be required to identify those patients who are not eligible for free care – and make foreigners pay for life-saving treatment they receive on accident and emergency wards.

But the reforms mean that eligible patients will also have to prove they have the right to be treated free of charge.

While the Government has made clear that no one will be denied medical care, they will be expected to prove their eligibility with an NHS number or passport either when they present themselves or once they have been “stabilised”.’

Read more: Migrants will have to pay at A&E – and all patients will have to prove they are not foreigners to get free NHS treatment