Non-EU will be charged for NHS in addition to £600 surcharge

[oj.bulmer]

Apparently, there are proposals to charge non-EU patients for NHS services, even for GP appointments, blood tests, X-ray etc. Even ambulance and A&E service will be charged as well! The urgent medical care will be given (and later charged) but GPs/hospitals can withhold treatment for non-urgent ailments until payment is made. Below are the references:

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/201 ... t#comments

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style ... 62136.html

Never heard about it until yesterday when it popped up in my regular google searches for "immigration uk" to find "what's new" in the list of hurdles we already have

Will this be in addition to health surcharge? Would non-EU people be exempt from NI contributions if they pay £200 yearly surcharge and NHS services at point-of-use? Would the charges for NHS services be made astronomical so people just get frustrated and leave? Questions, questions, questions! The chaos of this uncertainty shows no signs of dissipating!

[CR001]

These articles are from last year. This is aimed at tourists or people on visitor visas.