asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the 2006 London Project report, sponsored by Médecins du Monde, and, in particular, its recommendation that pre- and post-natal care should be provided for migrant women, regardless of their immigration status. [HL535]
Guidance to the National Health Service is clear that maternity treatment should always be considered as immediately necessary and provided regardless of whether or not the woman is entitled to receive it free of charge or doubts about whether she could pay if subsequently found to be chargeable under the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989, as amended. This includes routine antenatal treatment, delivery and postnatal treatment. In conjunction with the Home Office, the department is currently reviewing the rules governing access to the NHS by foreign nationals. This will include the issue of maternity treatment. The review is due to be completed shortly and will then be followed by a full public consultation.