Union vows to support NHS staff who refuse to act as “border guards”

The medical union Doctors in Unite has vowed to support health workers who refuse to check migrant patients’ eligibility for NHS care before treating them, and who may face disciplinary action for doing so.

The pledge came in a motion passed at the union’s annual conference on 20 January, which put on record its opposition to the government’s policy of charging migrants and overseas visitors for NHS care.

The group—which is part of the Unite union—noted “the progressive tightening” of the rules regarding eligibility …