The responses to the 2004 consultation, ‘Proposals to Exclude Overseas Visitors from Eligibility to Free NHS Primary Medical Services’ were both extensive and inconclusive. They highlighted a range of difficult and sensitive issues.
As a result, all these issues are now being considered as part of the joint Department of Health and Home Office review of the rules governing access to the national health service by foreign nationals. The review was announced on 7 March in the Home Office publication, ‘Enforcing the Rules: A new strategy to ensure and enforce compliance with our immigration laws’.
The review is due to be completed shortly and will then be followed by a full public consultation. The responses to the 2004 consultation are being considered as part of this review, we will publish the responses to the 2004 consultation when the Review of Access to the NHS by foreign nationals goes out to public consultation in spring 2008.