Foreigners

I have read the link, and it's discriminatory if the initial check is the photo ID/passport

because it's to be used to decide who to ask to prove their residency, rather than to ask everyone to prove residency, so it's about discrimination with british passport holders not asked anything further about their residency.

Why ask for passports at all, it doesn't tell you anything about eligibility? If they want to check residency then I'ld support that, but then ask everyone to do so.

Rose a lot of ex pats live outside the EU

Then any non EU resident of this country would surely be able to supply additional proof of residency if they were not British.It's not rocket science to prove either way,and would make it easier to see who is fraudulently claiming treatment.It can be done, and should be done.

I thought the passport was just for photo ID purposes. That's why other documentation is required to ascertain entitlement to NHS treatment.

I see nothing wrong with making the resources of the NHS only free for those who are really elegible.

I see nothing wrong with making the resources of the NHS only free for those who are really eligible

Sure, noone argues with that.

Checking Nationality of people as they seek NHS treatment is not checking eligibility to NHS treatment though

Just like schools asking kids if they have a British passport is not checking ESL status or numbers

Then any non EU resident of this country would surely be able to supply additional proof of residency if they were not British.

Theresa May made sure it's impossible for some EU nationals to get a residency card by moving the goal posts and applying new rules retrospectively so that people who were following the rules for years couldn't apply for a card!

Then they will have to prove residency, why would that be a problem?

so may be easier for non EU residents at the moment, but it's impossible now for a lot of EU nationals, particularly those who have been students or self employed in the last 5 years!

Further down the article it says

“At booking every patient will need to show a form of photo ID or proof of their right to remain (asylum status, visa, etc),” the October trust board papers say.

The passport headline is just an attention-grabber - what the trust is asking for is proof of eligibility to be treated by the NHS, not nationality.

Rose do you know the first think about recent changes to permanant residency applications?

For a start, it's a long process, it's an 80 odd page form, and if you've been a student or self employed in the last 5 years your years may not count even though at the time it did count under the rules at the time.

A letter from their GP/ College/ etc there really must becways of proving that you are in fact a resident of the UK, otherwise, if we do nothing this abuse of the NHS will carry on, and even get worse.

At booking every patient will need to show a form of photo ID or proof of their right to remain

I read that too, are you all missing he "or" in that sentance?

They're not asking everyone to prove their residency rights.

Rose, GPs are being encouraged to take inactive people off their books, so if you don't need your GP for a year or so you may have to re-register.

So if you've not been ill lately, then what?

No, don't know about permanent residency applications.....why would I?But nobody can think that a proper check, before a hospital gives any treatment other than emergency, would be a bad thing.

No, don't know about permanent residency applications.....why would I

Because I would have thought that by posting on a thread like this is implies some interest in the status of non british people in britain

so whatever end of the spectrum you sit on this, wouldn't you want to have some basic background understanding of what the existing rules are?

Inactive patients? This is all getting a bit extreme, if people are going to prove they are who they say they are, then in future they will have to ask what credentials they should take to a hospital.Their GP surgery should be able to help them, inactive or not.

You are being ridiculous now notanan we are not all barrack room lawyers on here you know.I think most posters would agree that identification should be presented up front, at a hospital, from foreign nationals ( non EU) to try and curb health tourism.
Will leave you with your massive bee in your bonnet.

If someone wants to live in this country so badly, fill in the forms!
How many of these 'students' are students. So many companies have been uncovered, it's difficult to know.
Self employed: would that be the Big Issue sellers?

Self employed: would that be the Big Issue sellers?
yeah, or, agency nurses, private physios, small business owners, employers….
they've all had the rug pulled from under them with the retrospective application of new rules.

Have a look at these forms if you think it's that easy. Would you qualify? You might be surprised.

Will leave you with your massive bee in your bonnet.
And I'll leave you ignoring what's happening to our neighbours, doctors, nurses, teachers etc because it doesn't directly effect you cause you're allright jack!.

notanan please don't put Big issue sellers in the same bracket as nurses. We all know that that was done so they could receive 'in work benefits'
I'm certainly not 'all right jack'. I now have to queue outside my surgery at 7. 30 in the morning for a same day appointment. Could that be because the uk population has grown from 59.1 million in 2000 to 65 million in 2014.
It is estimated that net migration plus births to foriegn born parents has accounted for 85% of population growth.
6 million plus extra people must have some bearing on me queueing at 7.30. Or am I missing something.

Yes you are missing a massive lack of funding for the NHS, a reorganisation that no one wanted and that made many GPs just decide to pack in medicine, and that cost a fortune, an aging population that require more medication and the abandonment of the Labour commitment that you would not have to wait more than 48 hours for an appointment. But apart from those things all but one of which can be attributed to this government no you're not.

notanan please don't put Big issue sellers in the same bracket as nurses.
You're confusing me with Theresa May, I didn't make the new rules for Permanant Resident cards.

As well as what trisher said, medical school grads not feeling they can have a career in the NHS because of shitty contracts and going straight to work abroad as soon as they finish (not always by choice, many feel they have no other choice) leaving medical services short of doctors…

But yeah! foreigners!

Can I add to the people from overseas working here those employed in the arts who quite often are working as self-employed or on short term contracts for specific projects. Many have been here for years but are not employees.