Seven days in medicine: 31 January to 6 February 2018
BMJ 2018; 360 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k573 (Published 08 February 2018) Cite this as: BMJ 2018;360:k573
NHS
Increasing migrant surcharge could raise £220m a year
The immigration health surcharge, payable by people from outside the European Economic Area who stay in the UK for six months or more, will rise later this year from £200 (€227; $277) to £400 a year, and the rate for students will rise from £150 to £300 a year. The Department of Health and Social Care estimates that treating surcharge payers costs the NHS £470 per person per year on average. Projections suggest that the increased charges will provide around £220m a year extra.
Campaigners win right to challenge NHS England in court
JR4NHS, a group of campaigners including the renowned cosmologist Stephen Hawking, won permission to launch a High Court challenge against NHS England’s plans to go ahead with accountable care organisations, recently renamed as integrated care systems. Mr Justice Waller ruled that JR4NHS’s application arguing that the plans are unlawful can go to a full hearing as soon as possible after 14 March. Waller has permitted the campaign to argue in court that the health secretary’s plans need primary legislation and lack transparency.
Devolved nations
“Difficult decisions” to make NHS in Scotland sustainable
Politicians must be prepared to make difficult and potentially unpopular decisions to achieve radical change to the NHS in Scotland, including a cross party commitment to “de-politicise” the NHS, said a report from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and the Good Governance Institute. It recommended involving the public in debating …
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