Immigrant registration with NHS at one every minute

New statistics have revealed that the NHS registers one new immigrant every minute.

Based on data collated from 2007 to 2008, prior to recent large-scale immigration clampdowns, figures show that over 600,000 new arrivals into the UK registered with a general practitioner. This represents an increase of 50 percent from a similar survey undertaken in 2000.

Health officials and opponents of the Labour government are sure to jump on these numbers as evidence that immigration places massive pressure on health services who are struggling to deal with the growth in numbers.

According to Migrationwatch UK, the watchdog that discovered the data, of the 605,000 new sign-ons a mere 69,000 are UK citizens returning from overseas, meaning close to 550,000 are migrants. The group also pointed out that moving GP’s within a year of arrival does not count in the above statistics, along with expressing fears that there are insufficient checks in place with GPs for foreigners.

The group has claimed that the government has reneged on its 2004 promise that the NHS would prioritise Britons, although earlier this year GPs were afforded discretion to sign on who they wish. Migrationwatch has labeled the findings an open door for migrants into British health care, with the NHS suffering as the main political parties jostle for pre-election position.

The controversial population projections were also used by the campaign group to imply that Britain simply does not have the resources to cope with forecasted increases over the coming years.

The Department of Health defended the decision to let GPs register migrants as this would ultimately save money, given that preliminary treatment is far less expensive than treating acute illnesses.