Non-residents with unpaid NHS bills can be reported to Home Office, Court of Appeal rules

UK government rules imposing immigration sanctions on non-residents who owe the NHS at least £1000 for treatment are lawful, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Rules imposed in 2011 require NHS trusts to report non-residents to the Department of Health over unpaid treatment bills totalling £1000 or more and require the department to pass this information to the Home Office. Immigration rules provide that people listed as having outstanding bills will normally be turned down if they …