§ Mr. John EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements are made through the National Health Service for the emergency and routine health care of visitors to the United Kingdom who stay(a) less than six months and (b) six months or more.
§ Mr. MellorUnder the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations, visitors who have resided in the United Kingdom for less than one year normally have to pay for hospital treatment. Some visitors and some services are exempted and no charge is made for treatment at a hospital accident and emergency department, casualty department, or dental and ophthalmic emergency department.
Visitors may use general medical services at any time but practitioners have discretion to accept them as private or as National Health Service patients.