EXPOSED: The foreign doctors milking NHS to fly their families in for pricey treatment
NHS doctors are ripping off Britain’s cash-strapped health service by flying in their overseas’ families over for hospital treatment, a shocking investigation has revealed.
The NHS is under pressure, officials warn
One surgeon is said to have admitted his foreign relative who had a fractured hip to hospital claiming the treatment was “immediately necessary”.
A coronary bypass is also on the list as part of evidence by Overseas Visitor Officers who determine whether foreign patients are entitled to treatment on the NHS.
The NHS is facing calls to clamp down on the so-called health tourism sham which sees foreigners land in Britain to abuse our free health service and return home leaving UK taxpayers to foot the bill.
Foreign doctors are alleged to take advantage of the NHS' free services
Health tourists will continue to abuse the NHS as it’s so easy
Former leading cancer surgeon, Professor J Meirion Thomas said the “creaking” NHS crisis could be solved if overseas patients were ordered to hand over cash.
The shocking revelations were exposed in evidence submitted by Professor Thomas during the Public Accounts Committee.
He said: “Health tourists will continue to abuse the NHS as it’s so easy. Health insurance should be a compulsory requirement for a visitors visa.
“Abuse of the NHS by its own employees is common. A GP brought his father for treatment saying he’d applied for asylum, a common ploy they know it will involve a prolonged stay while the case is isvesigtated.”
The NHS is facing calls to clamp down on the so-called health tourism sham
The shocking revelations were exposed in evidence submitted by Professor Thomas
Another said: “A visited need a bypass. Sons are a doctor and a pharmacist.”
One added: “We find NHS employees bringing family members to the UK for expensive operations and getting them to register at a local surgery.”
A Department for Heath spokesman added: “Any NHS staff member found to be doing this should be reported to the appropriate authorities.”