§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many foreign visitors received non-urgent surgery in hospitals in the United Kingdom in each of the past eight years; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what consideration has been given to restricting non-urgent surgery to British patients and imposing full charges on non-British patients who contracted their disease abroad; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieInformation on the nationality of patients treated in National Health Service hospitals in England is not collected centrally. (Information for the rest of the United Kingdom is a matter for my right hon. Friends, the Secretaries of State for Wales and Northern Ireland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.)
It is residence in the United Kingdom, rather than citizenship or nationality, which is the basis of eligibility for free NHS treatment. Under regulations effective since October 1982, anyone not ordinarily resident is liable to charges for hospital treatment unless covered by a reciprocal health care agreement or other specific exemption.