SWINDON doctors have hit back at the Government's plan to charge foreigners for health care.

Health Minister John Hutton announced new action to prevent access to NHS services by so-called health tourists.'

The wide-ranging set of changes to the legislation will close existing loopholes that have allowed overseas visitors with no substantive connection with the UK to receive free NHS hospital treatment.

But Dr Peter Swinyard, of Phoenix Surgery in Toothill Village, said the guidelines are cruel and lack compassion.

He said: "I have a problem with medical staff getting involved in deciding who to assess as to their eligibility for NHS treatment.

"On what grounds do they ask? Whether they look foreign or talk in bad English? How on earth do you avoid overt or covert racial discrimination?

"Health is a devolved matter to regional governments so does that mean we should screen everyone with a Welsh, Scottish or Irish accent?

"The most offensive part of Mr Hutton's deliberations is that asylum seekers whose applications are rejected lose their right to treatment at the moment of their rejection. How cruel is that?

"These people are desperate. They have been rejected by their country of choice and usually have no access to money. Surely we can compassionately treat these people until they leave the UK."

Dr Kandy Kandiah, of Sparcells Surgery, agreed that it is not the role of doctors to decide who is eligible for health care.

He said: "As a doctor I can't get involved with politics. Of course there are some people who abuse the system but it should be the politicians not the doctors who sort it out. "We simply don't have time to start asking for insurance or their papers. Anyone who walks through my door and needs treatment will be seen."

The changes follow a three-month public consultation earlier this year, following growing concerns from the NHS about abuses of the system by overseas visitors.

Under the rule changes failed asylum seekers will not receive free treatment for conditions arising after their legal status has been determined.

And business travellers and their dependants who fall ill or are injured during a trip to the UK will also be denied free treatment. Only people who work and are permanently resident in the UK will be eligible.

Mr Hutton said: "The NHS is there to provide free treatment for those who live here, not those who don't. It is a national health service. Not an international service." Irrespective of the financial scale of abuse, it is important we establish a closer link between free use of the NHS and residency in the UK."

Alex Emery