Following his introduction of a Private Member’s Bill last year and a petition this year, Crawley MP, Henry Smith, has today congratulated the Health Secretary, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, on listening to and acting on the demands Henry laid out during his campaign to properly record recover outstanding debts owed from foreign nationals who receive treatment through the NHS.

Celebrating the announcement, Henry commented:

“I’m delighted that the Government is supporting the measures I set out in my Private Member’s Bill to ensure that the costs of treating foreign patients is properly recorded and recovered.

“Brits travelling abroad expect to have to take out insurance if they need health care and so it’s only fair on our taxpayers and patients that the NHS stops being an international health service. 

“Today’s move will ensure that hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ pounds lost through outstanding debts will be returned and re-invested towards ensuring a better quality of health service for British patients.”

Almost 700 predominately Crawley residents also joined Henry’s campaign by signing up to his petition lobbying the Government for immediate action.

Follow Henry daily via: www.facebook.com/henrysmithmp; www.twitter.com/HenrySmithMP;  http://www.youtube.com/user/HenrySmithMP; or www.henrysmith.info.