MPs join revolt over war on NHS tourists

Tony Blair today faced a major new revolt over government plans to deny NHS care to failed asylum seekers.

Labour MPs denounced the proposals as "monstrous" and "unethical". The British Medical Association said it would put doctors in an impossible position.

Ministers were announcing details of the move, unveiled by Health Secretary John Reid in a clampdown on "health tourism" which is estimated to cost Britain £200 million a year.

From April, refugees whose asylum claims have been rejected will be turned away from NHS hospitals and surgeries unless they pay up front.

Even those in acute pain, or suffering from HIV infection, will be refused treatment unless their case is judged a "genuine emergency".

Other groups, including business travellers and relatives of foreigners living in the UK, will also lose their right to free treatment. MPs are set to be denied a vote because the measures will come in under existing laws.

The Prime Minister approved the curbs after evidence of mounting public concern about the cost of treating foreigners on the NHS.

Hospital chiefs have pointed to cases of pregnant women arriving in Britain days before they were due to give birth, having their baby free on the NHS, and leaving soon afterwards without paying a penny.

But some Labour MPs called the Government's response an over-reaction and vowed to protest in the Commons. Former minister Glenda Jackson said: "It is quite monstrous to tell families who have no money that they cannot have treatment. Some will even have children who were born here.

"This is just part and parcel of the Government blaming others for problems rather than sitting down to sort them out in an efficient manner."

Labour MP Lynne Jones said: "I think it is utterly stupid as well as unethical. The money saved will be trivial, but it could potentially lead to higher medical costs later."

Neil Gerrard, Labour chairman of the all-party Aids group, said it would be "foolhardy" to deny HIV sufferers free treatment. He said: "There is no hard evidence to suggest a lot of people come here just to exploit the NHS."

Edwin Borman, chairman of the BMA's international committee, said it was "utterly unacceptable" to scrap free health care for failed asylum seekers. He accused ministers of "jumping on a bandwagon" and said treatment should not be withdrawn "where it may be entirely necessary on medical grounds".

Geoff Martin of health workers' union Unison said: "It puts front-line staff in a very difficult position if they are asked to make an immigration judgment, rather than a medical judgment, on someone who is seriously ill."

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants called the measures "xenophobic" and "lacking in compassion"-Difficulties are expected to arise when failed asylum seekers turn up at hospitals in acute pain from conditions such as arthritis, which are not life-threatening. A BMA spokeswoman said that in such a case, "the doctor's first priority would be to treat that person".

Ministers won backing from Labour MP David Hinchliffe, chairman of the Commons Health Committee, who praised the clampdown and suggested restrictions on foreigners visiting Britain without health insurance. The Tories welcomed the government action but said it was overdue.

Under the proposed changes, foreigners living in Britain will continue to be entitled to free NHS treatment. However, their dependants will no longer be allowed to fly in for free health care. Foreigners on short business trips to the UK will lose their right to free care.

Asylum seekers will go on receiving NHS care while their cases are being processed. If their claims are rejected, they will be allowed to complete any current courses of medical treatment without charge, but will be refused new treatments unless they pay up front.

Infectious diseases like TB will still be treated free of charge to stop them from spreading.

Announcing the clampdown on Sunday, Dr Reid said: "People are coming here on a so-called business trip and suddenly discovering that there's something wrong with them. There is widespread abuse."