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British army veteran faces £27,000 NHS hospital bill

https://www.gofundme.com/f/british-army-vet-taitusi-ratucaucau-medical-bill This certainly cannot be right!   Fiji-born man told he is not eligible for free treatment after brain tumour surgery
A Commonwealth-born veteran, who served for more than a decade in the British army including tours of Afghanistan and Iraq, has been told he must pay more than £27,000 for NHS hospital bills after an emergency operation to remove a brain tumour. Hospital staff have classified Taitusi Ratucaucau, 49, as an overseas patient, and therefore ineligible for free NHS care. He joined the British army in 2001 and has been continuously in the UK since being discharged from the military in 2011, living here with his wife and three daughters, and paying tax and national insurance. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/18/british-army-veteran-faces-27000-nhs-hospital-bill?fbclid=IwAR1ARVBAoIwA9BJ98fveYE_4tC754AP_aqal7L3SokFEftlO1ZIvwlOaWHM

Ivonne Holliday ● 2366d13 Comments

Quite agree, Yvonne, it's disgraceful. Anyway I thought the rule that non British subjects must pay for NHS treatment does not apply to emergency care and his was classed as an emergency operation.

Jane Carter ● 2366d

I agree Jane.  Not only has he served in the British Army, he is from a Commonwealth country,  is living in the UK, is working here, paying taxes and national insurance.  It was my understanding that the charges applied to overseas people who are not contributing to national insurance. Do we not have a "special relationship" with Commonwealth countries? I am surprised they could not find his NI number.  Not having a hospital number is neither here not there because he probably has not needed hospital treatment before. Are we going the American way?  

Ivonne Holliday ● 2366d

Looks like one of those Kafka meets Ms/Mr Jobsworth situations: rules is rules, wrong paperwork and so what if you've paid tax and NI you're not British even if you fought for the UK, your fault, you're on your own now we've finished using you. Looks like it will be the same with NHS and care workers, as soon as we've finished using them during the current pandemic, Ms Patel will only leave the exit door open. A warning to all EU citizens with settles status only: don't be naive and believe the platitudes of the current government - they'll cease to honour them when it's politically expedient. 

Michael Ixer ● 2366d

He should have had an NHS number if he was working and paying tax here.

Jane Carter ● 2366d

Absolutely Jane!  Perhaps they assumed he was a overseas patient without looking for an NI number?  Very odd indeed!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2366d

The other day, cannot remember where unfortunately, I read that all foreign staff in the NHS still have to pay the yearly £625 to use the NHS, even if they are paying taxes and NI....  This cannot possibly be true — at least, I hope it is not!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2366d

I'd certainly expect that my NHS treatment would be free, and I have never been prepared to die for this country in any war that it has chosen to fight in my lifetime.

David Ainsworth ● 2365d

Sadly Yvonne, it is true, even if they are paying taxes, NI and working in the NHS

Jane Carter ● 2365d

This started even before Theresa May’s infamous “hostile environment” was brought in, which Priti Patel has of course enthusiastically embraced. The Immigration Bill is sailing through the Commons with not a single complaint from Tory backbenchers.  Can anybody actually justify the way this unfortunate ex-serviceman has been treated?

Jonathan Callaway ● 2365d

Why cannot some of the money raised for NHS foot this bill, it is just a drop in the ocean compared to what has been raised for them .He has done his service for this country

Maureen Ann Smith ● 2364d

Sadly, I'm not sure that would be legal. The money was (to my knowledge) collected for NHS charities, not the NHS which is the government's responsibility to fund. These charities support causes such as providing assistance staff if they're too busy, for example, to purchase things themselves; anciliary needs for patients such as toiletries, and possibly facilities for visitors. I don't think they cover medical expenses? Happy to be corrected on that, though.

Michael Ixer ● 2363d

It would be better if NI was ring-fenced and didn't just go into the same tax pot as everything else.

Philippa Bond ● 2363d

Totally correct the money raised is for NHS Charities there are approximately 250 throughout the country and they offer support (volunteers) and extras for patients and NHS staff anyone can contribute to the charity anytime but money raised could not be used to pay a bill or put into the NHS  - it’s unusual for this to happen so hope it’s sorted out soon

Christine Bryan ● 2362d