§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will outline the criteria for who is eligible for free treatment under the national health service;
(2) if she will estimate how much money is lost each year through treating patients who are not eligible for free national health service treatment;
(3) if she will make a statement on the safeguards to minimise the number of people using the national health service who are not eligible for free national health service treatment.
§ Mr. SackvilleEligibility for free national health service hospital treatment is based on United Kingdom residence. Patients who are not ordinarily resident are liable for payment unless exempted, for example, by reciprocal arrangements. In 1990–91 non payment of £765,000 (England) was written-off. Comprehensive guidance on entitlement to free national health service treatment makes it clear that where there is doubt, subject to immediate clinical need, evidence to support eligibility or a full deposit should be sought.