Patients not passports
Make the NHS truly universal by ending immigration checks and upfront charging.
When the NHS came into being more than 70 years ago, universalism was its chief founding principle. But several policies have since undermined this. Most recently, the Government’s ‘hostile environment’ has brought border enforcement into the NHS and restricted access to care. In 2017 new regulations introduced upfront charging for NHS services, accompanied by identity checks. NHS Trusts share patient data and report patient debt to the Home Office, which is then used by immigration teams to track, detain and deport people.
Docs Not Cops launched the Patients Not Passports campaign to support opposition to the regulations from frontline healthcare workers and communities impacted by charging. Medact, Migrants Organise and NEF have joined the campaign. By challenging these policies, we can ensure that everyone can access vital healthcare, regardless of their immigration status.
By challenging the hostile environment in the NHS, we can ensure that everyone can access vital healthcare, regardless of their immigration status.
