Healthcare charges for migrants

Early day motion 357, tabled 22 April 2020 by Apsana Begum (Labour). Signed by 33 members.

That this House notes that migrant communities, who are disproportionately at risk of exclusion, stigma and discrimination, are not currently receiving the necessary safeguards; further notes that the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Physicians, and Doctors of the World have called on the Government to suspend the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2015 and 2017 and all associated immigration checks and data sharing; believes that it is vital that a clear message is sent to migrant communities that they can seek care when they need it, that they are included in society and have a part to play in response to this crisis; and therefore calls on the Government to suspend all NHS charging for migrants, suspend all data sharing between health services and the Home Office, implement a firewall to ensure that patient data will not be shared with the Home Office or other bodies for the purposes of immigration enforcement, and launch an information campaign to ensure both NHS staff and the public are aware of these changes and that it is safe for people to seek care, particularly aimed at migrant communities across the UK.

Signatures by party: Labour 19, Liberal Democrat 6, DUP 2, Scottish National Party 2, Alliance 1, Green 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.