At Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday Henry Smith MP asked David Cameron if he would back the principle behind his recently introduced Private Members’ Bill which would require the NHS to audit the treatment of foreign patients so costs can be recovered.

Henry Smith stated and asked the Prime Minister:

“Under the previous Labour Government the NHS lost hundreds of millions of pound through the treatment of foreign patients where the costs were not recovered. Will the Prime Minister ensure that the Department of Health and Home Office work together to finally resolve this problem?”

Henry said afterwards:

“I was delighted to get confirmation from the Prime Minister on the floor of the House that he was now setting up a joint committee of both levels chaired at a senior ministerial level to address the issue.”

Henry continued:

“The purpose of the Bill isn’t to deny healthcare to foreign nationals, but to ensure that reciprocal arrangements we have with European Economic Area nations, and other countries, are properly used so the British health budget is not unfairly burdened.

“The issue of fairness is key. Fairness to the taxpayers that fund the system and fairness to those that use it.  The measures that I am proposing will save the NHS hundreds of millions of pounds each year.”