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| Bimbo Ayelabola |
A Heavily-pregnant woman flew from her home in Nigeria to take advantage of the
NHS by having her baby in Britain.
NHS by having her baby in Britain.
She had £10,000 of treatment but is understood to have returned to
Nigeria with her baby without paying a penny.
Nigeria with her baby without paying a penny.
The woman travelled 3,200 miles from Lagos to Manchester because
she was worried about the standard of care in her own country and thought she
would be in safer hands.
she was worried about the standard of care in her own country and thought she
would be in safer hands.
On arrival she went straight to Wythenshawe
Hospital where she told doctors that there were complications with her
pregnancy.
Hospital where she told doctors that there were complications with her
pregnancy.
Two midwives, two urology consultants, a radiology consultant, two obstetric
consultants and two anaesthetists attended her in the delivery room
before her healthy baby was born by emergency Caesarean section on Wednesday of
last week.
Before she was discharged on Monday, hospital staff sought billing
details for the woman and told her the cost of the treatment was around
£10,000. However, she is not thought to have paid anything.
details for the woman and told her the cost of the treatment was around
£10,000. However, she is not thought to have paid anything.
Last night MPs called for an inquiry and accused the unnamed woman of
‘effectively stealing’ from the British taxpayer.
The Government said it hoped new measures would tackle ‘health
tourists’ who fly to Britain to take advantage of the world-renowned NHS.
tourists’ who fly to Britain to take advantage of the world-renowned NHS.
Health minister Simon Burns said: ‘We won’t tolerate abuse of our
health service. The NHS has a duty to anyone whose life or long-term health is
at immediate risk but it is not there to serve the health needs of the globe.’
health service. The NHS has a duty to anyone whose life or long-term health is
at immediate risk but it is not there to serve the health needs of the globe.’
Hospitals are allowed to bill non-EU patients who travel from
their home countries to the UK for medical treatment on the NHS.
their home countries to the UK for medical treatment on the NHS.
But health sources say that in reality patients often return
to their homeland without paying and the debts are then almost impossible
to recover.
to their homeland without paying and the debts are then almost impossible
to recover.
The Harvard-educated woman flew to Manchester Airport and went
directly to Wythenshawe Hospital.
directly to Wythenshawe Hospital.
It is believed she chose the well-respected university hospital
because she knew it had a maternity unit and was less than two miles from the
airport.
because she knew it had a maternity unit and was less than two miles from the
airport.
On arrival she told doctors she had undergone an ultrasound scan
in Nigeria which revealed complications with her pregnancy which suggested a
Caesarean was advisable.
in Nigeria which revealed complications with her pregnancy which suggested a
Caesarean was advisable.
Nigeria offers free maternity treatment but the quality of the
care is very poor and there is a high mortality rate. A woman there has a
one in 13 chance of dying during pregnancy or childbirth, according to recent
statistics.
care is very poor and there is a high mortality rate. A woman there has a
one in 13 chance of dying during pregnancy or childbirth, according to recent
statistics.
Her baby was born at Wythenshawe without complication.
Mr Burns said: ‘There are comprehensive rules and procedures to
charge visitors for hospital treatment but we know that the system needs to be
improved.
charge visitors for hospital treatment but we know that the system needs to be
improved.
‘That is why we are currently reviewing those arrangements to prevent
inappropriate free access to the NHS and provide a fairer more balanced system.
Hospitals have a legal duty to recover any charges made to overseas patients.’
Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham said: ‘We need a full inquiry
into the circumstances and how the hospital has been left in this position.
There are clear rules about health tourism and the NHS must be able to recover
its costs.’
into the circumstances and how the hospital has been left in this position.
There are clear rules about health tourism and the NHS must be able to recover
its costs.’
Graham Stringer, Labour MP for the Manchester seat of Blackley and Broughton,
added: ‘This is simply a foreigner choosing to effectively steal off the NHS
and the Government should use whatever powers it has to get the money back.’
University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust –
which runs Wythenshawe – is short of funds and is having to cut £17.5million
this year.
which runs Wythenshawe – is short of funds and is having to cut £17.5million
this year.
The hospital has a dedicated team who pursue payment by invoicing
patients, but once they leave the UK the hospitals are almost powerless to act.
patients, but once they leave the UK the hospitals are almost powerless to act.
However hospitals can inform the UK Border Agency and repeat entry
into the UK by visa may be withheld until the bill is settled.
into the UK by visa may be withheld until the bill is settled.
A hospital spokesman said: ‘If a patient is a non-UK resident and
treatment is considered necessary or urgent then it would never be withheld.
treatment is considered necessary or urgent then it would never be withheld.
‘In regards to reclaiming costs from non-UK residents who use our
services, we adhere to guidelines issued by the Department of Health.’
services, we adhere to guidelines issued by the Department of Health.’
Figures revealed by Wythenshawe Hospital showed the number of
non-EU patients treated rose from 78 in 2008/09 to 133 in 2011/12.
non-EU patients treated rose from 78 in 2008/09 to 133 in 2011/12.
Source: Daily Mail
