Department of Health and Social Care written question – answered at on 25 January 2018.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Tottenham of 9 January 2018, when he is planning to review the effect of upfront charging in the NHS and extending charges to out-of-hospital care and care provided by non NHS organisations.
Following the commencement of the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (the “amendment regulations”), in line with the continuing public sector equalities duty, and also recognising concerns that have been raised by stakeholders regarding the introduction of the amendment regulations, the Department has begun a review of the impact of the changes introduced by the amendment regulations.
The Department is working with arm’s length bodies and stakeholders to review the impact of the amendment regulations in respect of upfront charging, patient records, community services and non-NHS providers, with a particular focus on the extent to which there are any unintended consequences on delivery of care in the community for the most vulnerable, and how any such unintended consequences could be addressed.
The Department will provide an update to stakeholders once the review is completed (likely in spring 2018), and will set out any further action that is considered necessary following the review.
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