Go to Write To Them and type in your postcode to bring up the form to contact your MP. Feel free to use any of this text in your message:
Dear[their name],
I am writing to express my opposition to healthcare charging in the NHS, and to the ways in which it is being implemented. The 2014 Immigration Act has made it a legal obligation for NHS bodies to identify and charge people for treatment. Upfront passport and payment checks have already been piloted and are scheduled to be expanded nationwide from April 2017.
Firstly, it is not cost-effective. The 2014 Immigration Act aims to “Clamp down on those from overseas who try to abuse our public services.” However there is very little evidence that “Health Tourism” is a significant problem; Government estimates that it accounts for just 0.3% of the health budget. In a 2016 study of 150 hospital trusts, 34% stated that they spent more money on financing overseas charging teams than costs recovered. Where it is likely to be effective, is in deterring vulnerable people from accessing timely medical treatment for fear of being charged huge medical bills and their details being passed to the Home Office. This has cost implications-more emergency, complex hospital admissions that could be prevented and treated sooner; more untreated infectious disease in the community.
Secondly, it is unethical. 14% of UK citizens do not own passports, and homeless and other vulnerable residents of the UK are likely to be deterred and disadvantaged by ID checks. It also undermines the principles of patient confidentiality. It was reported in February 2017 that NHS Digital records have been passed to the Home Office for the purposes of immigration control. It betrays the privileged position of trust that doctors and nurses enjoy with their patients, by requiring them to gather information that may then be used against people, and forcing them to consider whether treatment is chargeable rather than exclusively prioritising health.
Charging for care changes the fundamental principle that the NHS was founded on, free at the point of delivery, which the majority of the UK electorate continue to support. However, regardless of the principle, it is clear that the way that charging is currently being introduced is unjust, unethical and ineffectual. I hope that you will join me in opposing it, and draw attention to these issues in Parliament, especially as ID checks become more widespread.
I am writing to express my opposition to healthcare charging in the NHS, and to the ways in which it is being implemented. The 2014 Immigration Act has made it a legal obligation for NHS bodies to identify and charge people for treatment. Upfront passport and payment checks have already been piloted and are scheduled to be expanded nationwide from April 2017.
Firstly, it is not cost-effective. The 2014 Immigration Act aims to “Clamp down on those from overseas who try to abuse our public services.” However there is very little evidence that “Health Tourism” is a significant problem; Government estimates that it accounts for just 0.3% of the health budget. In a 2016 study of 150 hospital trusts, 34% stated that they spent more money on financing overseas charging teams than costs recovered. Where it is likely to be effective, is in deterring vulnerable people from accessing timely medical treatment for fear of being charged huge medical bills and their details being passed to the Home Office. This has cost implications-more emergency, complex hospital admissions that could be prevented and treated sooner; more untreated infectious disease in the community.
Secondly, it is unethical. 14% of UK citizens do not own passports, and homeless and other vulnerable residents of the UK are likely to be deterred and disadvantaged by ID checks. It also undermines the principles of patient confidentiality. It was reported in February 2017 that NHS Digital records have been passed to the Home Office for the purposes of immigration control. It betrays the privileged position of trust that doctors and nurses enjoy with their patients, by requiring them to gather information that may then be used against people, and forcing them to consider whether treatment is chargeable rather than exclusively prioritising health
Charging for care changes the fundamental principle that the NHS was founded on, free at the point of delivery, which the majority of the UK electorate continue to support. However, regardless of the principle, it is clear that the way that charging is currently being introduced is unjust, unethical and ineffectual. I hope that you will join me in opposing it, and draw attention to these issues in Parliament, especially as ID checks become more widespread.
Yours, [your name].