- 09 September 2019
- 3 min read
£1 million funding boost for crackdown on health tourism
The Health Secretary has set aside an additional £1 million to help recover unpaid health debts from overseas visitors.

Crackdown on health tourism
Ministers have started a crackdown on health tourism by announcing a £1 million drive to reclaim outstanding debts from visitors.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has handed the seven-figure funding boost to the team tasked with recovering money from overseas visitors who have failed to pay for their healthcare while in the UK.
The Department for Health and Social Care said a “significant proportion” of visitor debt remains unpaid.
In the latest sign of Boris Johnson’s bid to woo Leave voters, Mr Hancock said it was “only fair we ask overseas visitors to pay their way”.
The Prime Minister has already announced that he plans to introduce an Australian-style points-based immigration system after Brexit, to ensure migrants coming to Britain are well-skilled.
Find Midwifery Jobs on Nurses.co.uk
1000s of UK Nursing and Care Home Jobs. Updated all day, every day.
Find JobsEEA Health Fee
Under current rules, those residing in the UK who are not British nationals or from the European Economic Area are required to pay a health fee when they apply for a visa to live temporarily in the UK.
But the Government said some visitors are circumventing the rules to exploit the NHS’s free-at-entry system.
In comments made to the Sunday Express and Mail on Sunday, Mr Hancock said: “Our beloved NHS is renowned around the world for providing high quality health care and it is able to do so thanks to the valuable contributions made by hardworking taxpayers – so it is only fair we ask overseas visitors to pay their way as well.
“This new drive will help recoup millions in unclaimed funds for our NHS which can go back into frontline patient care, so the NHS can be there for all of us when we need it most.”
Unpaid debts remain outstanding
A Government spokesman said that while “significant strides” had been made in ensuring non-UK NHS users were charged, “significant proportions of unpaid debt remain outstanding”.
The extra money from the Secretary of State will be used to accelerate the crackdown on health tourism as the minority administration pledged to “make sure every penny of taxpayers’ investment in the NHS benefits patients”.
New recruits will be added to the team that was established last year to support NHS trusts to “identify and recover” payments still due from oversea visitors.
The additional staff will help ensure the rules and exemptions involved when charging are understood and applied at hospitals across the country.
Despite charges for overseas visitors, there are exemptions in place to protect the most vulnerable – such as refugees, children and victims of modern slavery – to ensure urgent care is not withheld.
Jason Dorsett, chief finance officer at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said the recovery team’s assistance had lifted the “administrative burden” on his staff.
“We have had huge support from NHSI’s overseas visitors improvement team,” he said.
“We have learnt alternative ways to identify chargeable overseas patients.
The implementation of digital tools has reduced the administrative burden on previous methods resulting in a rise of income and cash recovery.”
Pete Papworth, director of finance at the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “We have seen a significant improvement in our identification of chargeable overseas patients and an increase in the associated income.”
Related stories
• Midwives say overseas pregnant women ‘must not be charged for NHS care’
• Johnson courts Nurses and Midwives with financial offers
• Chancellor Sajid Javid will announce £210m funding budget to help Nurse training
Nurses.co.uk editorial team
About the author
Nurses.co.uk editorial team
Bringing you a daily update of nursing, NHS, health and social care news from around the UK.
Want to get involved in the discussion
Sign In JoinRead something else
5 Practical Tips For Making A Good First Impression For Black Nursing Leaders
If you’re just starting in a senior role, making a positive first impression is key. Band 8 Nurse, Maxine, offers her first impression top tips, as well as advice for dealing with ‘Imposter Syndrome’.
Top Tips For Working Over The Christmas Season
Adult Nurse, Zara, offers her advice and tips for working during the busy festive season, and explains why having a positive attitude is so important for both you and your patients.
What Is Agency Nursing & Why It Could Be Your Next Career Move
Natalie Ponting of MSI group explains the pros and cons of working as an Agency Nurse, contrasting the increased job flexibility and pay with the unpredictability and potential extra costs.
Latest Jobs
Agency RGN Night Shifts
Craigavon, Armagh, Northern Ireland
JustNurses
Ward Nurse
Woking, Surrey, England
Stroud Resourcing
Endoscopy Manager
Farnham, Surrey, England
Spire Healthcare
Registered Nurse - Care Home
Warwick, Warwickshire, England
Appoint Healthcare
Matron
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Deputy Ward Manager
Dartford, Kent, England
Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
See all of our RGN jobs
5494 jobs currently available