MEDICAL TOURISTS COST RUINS THE NHS

This is just one case and one example. A Nigerian woman flew into Manchester and got a taxi to the A&E at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester. She stated quite blatantly that she had an ultra sound scan in Nigeria and it showed there are complications with the birth. She had her caesarean and when she recovered left. The costs must have been tens of thousand of pounds. The hospital admitted she needed a number of midwives, two urology consultants, a radiology consultant, two anaesthetists and two obstetric consultants.

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The woman never gave an address so the cost goes back to NHS which is already in great financial trouble. The worst is she is not the only one. There seem to be stream of Medical tourists who fly in have themselves treaded and vanish again. The estimated cost seems to be anything from £40million to £200million. Due to the Freedom of Information seem to be given a more accurate figure of an average unpaid debt is £230,000. This figure was established from only 35 out 169 health trusts in England which responded.

The Government promised again to look into and try to find a way to stop it. However, this promise was handed out by every predecessor. It is not only the lost money with which the NHS could dearly do with. They also make other patients wait for their operation and treatment which is unacceptable. The worst hit hospitals are when they close to an airport.

The only problem arises when actions would be taken there is a dilemma because doctors are under the obligation to save lives and give treatment. With that point of view they cannot refuse treatment to anyone but there is a thin line which should not be crossed. There is a difference when a foreigner or asylum seeker who suddenly needs treatment for whatever reason and foreigner blatantly flies into the UK and demand treatment like that Nigerian woman who knew she would have better treatment and for nothing. That is were it should be stopped. On the other hand medical staff can hardly send a highly pregnant woman back. There is no doubt a great problem how to stop medical tourism and that is where these people banking on.