Neptuno

Isn't there a case for the bringing back of the stamping of passports in the EU?
It would:
Prevent abuse of NHS by health tourists, both in EU countries and UK.It's time to stop people flying back to UK to see the GP (who has no idea his patient has moved to Spain) for prescriptions, or operations , treatment they are no longer eligible for.
Prevent benefit abuse eg WFP-why should someone living in UK receive this if overwintering in Spain;clue is in the name WINTER fuel payment. Would also prevent someone living in Spain claiming it via relative's address in UK.
Prevent tax avoidance from people living here for years and never made a declaration in Spain. There would be irrefutable proof of how many days had been spent in Spain, and whether they were tax resident or not!

mikelincs

Would also cost each country millions of Euros/pounds to build the customs areas, and to employ the officers, so it's a total non starter in the current ecconomic climarte, in any case the EU was formed to reduce the red tape and custome checks.

amideislas

Erm, I don't think the UK is a shengen country, so don't you get a stamp every time you enter the UK, or enter the EU from the UK anyway? (yes, I know the Spanish don't always bother to stamp the passport, but IIRC the UK does!).

Neptuno

But you already have to show your passport at the airport! Stamping it would take but seconds.
It's time these people living under the radar,as they have been for years with impunity, abusing the health and tax systems in both countries, were flushed out, like the rats they are!
Just seen the above post-no! passports are not stamped any more!

mikelincs

Yes, but not on any roads, and there are far more people crossing EU borders by road than by air.

notacontrathinker

Patient : I'd like to make an appointment to see the doctor, please.

Receptionist : Could I see your passport, please ?

Patient : I haven't got one.

Receptionist : You do have a heavy suntan.

Patient : Sunlamp.

Receptionist : The luggage label on your bag says 'Malaga - Luton'.

Patient : I'm looking after it for a friend.

Receptionist : Wednesday at 10.00 am OK ?

amideislas

You're joking, right? I think Ryanair, Easyjet and BA would beg to differ.

Dick Dasterdly

With regard to the UK surely all passports are scanned on entering or leaving the country so customs already have evidence of your next port of call or last country of departure ?

rspltd

That only works if you think that the scan is recorded somewhere.

VFR

In the scale of things IF some Brits go back for health care the cost is tiny, like real tiny !
It is those from outside of the EU that Britain is now trying (after decades of nail bitting) to target.
Same applies to benifit claimants IMO.

We are now entitled to winter fuel payment & most are in recipt of this here in Spain, and again the cost to the UK (again in the scale of things) is so small I doubt it would even register.

notacontrathinker

I fully agree, and although I don't do so myself, I think that any Englishman setting foot on his native soil is entitled to the full benefits of the National Health Service for whatever reason, and wherever he is actually living.

Edit: This was written just before reading gurijohn's post 'Good news from the NHS'

Neptuno

NHS care in UK is residence based, and if you're not living there, you're not entitled to it, no matter who you are.Any GP who treats you knowing yo live in Spain risks getting into trouble

notacontrathinker

I'm taking great exception in your delight in redefining me and other expats as second class Englishmen or even 'rats'.

Domino

tell that to the doctors, nurses, welfare and others who actively assisted a Nigerian woman who was carrying quins, had full medical help for over 4 months, assisted multiple birth, and a year later is still in the UK.
Cost to the NHS over £217,000 to date.
All she did was tell immigration at the airport she was visiting her sister for a holiday.

agoreira

And many thousands are treated, and billed, but simply never pay, it's rare that anyone would be turned away. As I said in another post, in the list of people that don't pay these bills, in third place ahead of Pakistani's and Bangladeshi's are expats. As for GP's treating anyone not living in UK, how do they know?

Diane Abbott says ‘What price xenophobia? Stigmatising foreigners accessing NHS creates a public health risk.’ How many countries can you walk into and get free treatment, people are travelling to UK with existing serious conditions simply to get free treatment. As for the proposed £200 paid up front, as a consultant surgeon says, "the proposed new health care levy of £200 a year for foreigners will rank as the cheapest travel insurance ever devised, especially if it covers family and dependants."