| Chapter 5:
Overseas Visitors, Liable to NHS Charges |
Statutory/Manual References |
| Legal Requirements |
|
| 1. The Regulations state that a
HB, or as the case may be, a NHS Trust or DMU, "having determined by means of such
enquiries as it is satisfied are reasonable in all the circumstances, including the state
of health of that overseas visitor, that the case is not one in which these
Regulations provide for no charge to be made, shall make and recover from
the person liable under Regulation 7 NHS charges for the provision of services". |
1989 Reg 2(1) |
| 2. Care should be taken to ensure
that nothing is done which might involve or be interpreted as harassment of
an overseas patient. |
|
| Care Priority |
|
| 3. Procedures adopted should
accord with the normal principles of NHS patient care. If staff have any
reason to think that clinical attention is required without delay, that must take priority
over enquiries into the patient’s liability to NHS charges or their
ability to pay. |
Chapters 8
& 9 |
| Identification Process |
|
| 4. HBs and NHS Trusts or DMUs
should ensure that identification follows a two-stage procedure, in which the first stage
("Stage 1") applies to all new patients, other than those in departments in
which the treatment itself is exempt from NHS charges. Stage 1 procedures, as set out in
Chapter 8 of the Manual, should be followed, wherever possible. |
Chapter 8 |
| Stage 1 Procedure |
|
| 5. Stage 1 applies to all new
patients equally and should form part of routine registration or pre-registration
procedures for in-patient or out-patients. Staff should not significantly
alter the standard form of question, but documentary evidence to support the
answers given can be sought in cases of doubt. |
Chapter 8 |
| Stage 2 Procedure |
|
| 6. Stage 2 applies to patients
where doubt exists as to their status in the UK. Stage 2 should be undertaken by an
officer of supervisory or equivalent grade following the guidance set out in Chapter 9 of
this Manual. |
Chapter 9 |
| Note: In cases of
doubt a passport may be used to confirm a patients’ exemption from NHS charges,
or otherwise but should not be routinely sought or requested, and should
reflect the intention of paragraph 2 above. |
Chapter 11
& Appendix G |
