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Proposals to Exclude Overseas Visitors from Eligibility to Free NHS Primary Medical Services

<p>However, we must remember that the NHS is a national institution and not an international one. It is there to provide free treatment for those who live here and not for those who do not.</p><p>Our aim must be to maintain the principle of providing services free at the point of delivery - but to ensure, in the process, that these services are provided only to those who are properly eligible to receive them. We wish to see closer links established between free use of the NHS and UK citizenship or residency. The proposals contained in this document describe how we wish to move towards strengthening the rules on eligibility for free NHS primary medical services so that they more closely match those for free NHS hospital services.</p><p>The aim of the proposals contained in this document is to ensure that the NHS is first and foremost for the benefit of residents of this country. We want to make it clear to overseas visitors that whilst they will continue to be entitled to receive emergency or immediately necessary treatment, free of charge, under these proposals they would not be eligible for other free NHS primary medical services. We would like to be similarly clear that failed asylum seekers will not be eligible for free routine NHS primary medical services. But we are equally clear that in putting forward these proposals, we will continue to meet our international obligations in providing care for genuine asylum seekers and others that have a legitimate claim to be offered free NHS primary medical services while in this country.</p>

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