NHS under strain by migration

New figures released yesterday have shown the pressure that immigration places on the NHS.

The research, undertaken by Migrationwatch, found that in the years of 2007-8, 605,000 who arrived from abroad registered with a GP in England and Wales, equivalent ton one registration a minute.  This was nearly 100,000 more than recorded by the International Migration Statistics in the same period, suggesting that short-term migrants have registered. Only 69,000 of the 605,000 were British citizens returning from overseas.

The amount of those arriving from overseas registering with the NHS has increased by 50 per cent in the past seven years, but it is only the last three years were the registrations have exceeded the inflow of migrants.  The study revealed that 330,000 migrants who left England and Wales, but the churn with the greater population adds to the strain of the NHS.

The GP registration data are not overly precise as they have been compiled for statistical purposes, and understate the pressure of immigration on the National Health Service as migrants who move practices within the year would not show up as arrivals from overseas.  Additionally, young men who make up a large amount of the migrants are less likely to register with GPs than other groups.

At present, there are no checks on the entitlement of those who register with a GP, and doctors have the discretion to register whoever they choose.

In May 2004, the Government issued a proposal to exclude international visitors from eligibility to free NHS primary and medical services, which the former Secretary of State promised to, ensure that the NHS was first and foremost for the benefit fresidents of the country.  However in July this year, the government issued a proposal to allow GPs to maintain discretion as to registering a non-resident as private patients.

Chairman of Migration Watch, Sir Andrew Green, said this amounted to an open door policy to primary care which can also lead to secondary care.  He believed the government had been dithering while the NHS was struggling to cope with the increase caused by mass immigration.