The total amount of money owed to the Welsh NHS by foreign nationals not entitled to free treatment rose by over 250 per cent between 2008/09 and 2010/11.
The figures have been revealed by Shadow Minister for Health, Darren Millar AM.
The overall collection rate in Wales was 43 per cent in 10/11, down from 71 per cent in 2008/09. In England, similar figures show latest collection rates at 77 per cent, the same as 08/09.
The combined amount of money either written off or still classed as ‘owed’ in Wales stood at 70,000 pounds in ‘08/’09. Two years later the figure rose to 257,713 pounds. The amount ‘written off’ increased by over 100 per cent and the amount still ‘owed’ at the end of the year rose by 770 per cent.
During the same period the total number of Welsh invoices rose from 247,551 to 452,016 pounds; an 82 per cent increase.
Some hospital treatment is free of charge for everyone who needs it in Wales, regardless of how long they have been or intend to stay in the UK. Other treatment must be paid for by foreign nationals and details of charges should be properly explained to the patient.
The figures received by the Welsh Conservatives are split into ‘total invoices’, ‘value paid to date’, ‘amount owed’, ‘write off’ and ‘collection rate’.
Collection rates for money owed by this cross-section of patients differed from 100 per cent in Cwm Taf in 10/11 (which saw an improvement from 85 per cent two years previously) to 32 per cent in Cardiff and Vale (down from 67 per cent in 08/09). In the latter health board, invoices totalled 205,764 pounds in 10/11. Over 80 thousand pounds was still owed at the end of the year and nearly 60 thousand pounds written off.
Mr Millar, who obtained the figures via the Freedom of Information Act, said:
“There is an obvious problem with decreasing collection rates from this section of patients, particularly when compared to England.
“At a time when Labour is making record-breaking cuts to the NHS budget and our health boards are already struggling to break even, this is an area where improvements should be prioritised and monitored by the minister.
“While some health boards clearly have much higher numbers of invoices than others, there are still lessons to be learned from areas that have improved or maintained very high collection rates. Sharing best practice is essential in all areas of health, including this one.
“There are strict guidelines in place for explaining details of charges to patients who are required to pay and the Welsh Government should look carefully at how well these rules are followed.
“Any money written off by the NHS is regrettable when budgets are being squeezed so hard by Labour, and the big rise evident in these figures is of great concern.”
