Government plans to crackdown on health tourists

Under proposals designed to clamp down on misuse of the NHS, every tourist visiting Britain could be forced to prove they have health insurance .

Also, under the plans, foreign nationals who owe the health service money from previous trips would be stopped at the border. However, the scheme would allow free NHS care to be given to failed asylum seekers who currently cannot be removed for reasons such as their home nation is unsafe.

Ministers said that they were determined to dissuade so-called health tourists from entering Britain. Mike O’Brien, the health minister, said: Whilst the NHS has a duty to any person whose life or long-term health is at immediate risk, we cannot afford to be an international health service, providing free treatment for all.

A consultation on the proposals highlights cases including that of an overseas businessman who received NHS treatment worth £55,000 after falsely claiming to be resident and a woman who came to Britain in the final stages of her pregnancy to give birth and left an unpaid bill of almost £5,000.