Written question WQ100345

Immediately necessary and urgent treatment must not be withheld or delayed, regardless of a person's chargeable status, ability to pay or their immigration status. This is to protect both individual and public health.

Local Health Boards are required to apply the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989 when assessing whether a person is subject to charging for NHS hospital treatment.

Under the Regulations some NHS services are exempt from charging for all, for example treatment in A&E and treatment for specified conditions. Some specified groups of people, such as those that have applied for asylum, are exempt from charge for hospital treatment covered by the regulations. Where an individual is not ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom and does not fall within an exempt category, charges may apply for relevant secondary care services in accordance with the regulations.

Health Boards have a legal responsibility to identify patients who may be chargeable under the regulations and to recover charges where appropriate. Welsh Government expects all NHS organisations to implement the regulations consistently and in line with national guidance.