Whipps has no problem with health tourist WHIPPS Cross does not have a problem with so-called NHS health tourists, according to hospital chiefs.

The statement comes just weeks after the Government announced plans to clamp down on health tourists claiming they are a serious drain on NHS funds.

Ministers have pledged to close loopholes to stop overseas business travellers and their dependants, and failed asylum seekers who have lived in the UK for over a year, receiving free routine health treatments.

But last year Whipps Cross University Hospital treated just 27 overseas visitors. Four of these patients were insured and three were private patients. The remaining 20 were not insured and have been billed for the treatment they received.

The hospital has a specialist debt collection agency that helps it recover overseas debt.

In August last year, the Guardian reported all patients at Whipps Cross got the same treatment whether they were visitors to the country or not.

This week a spokeswoman for Whipps Cross said the hospital had "no problem" with so-called NHS health tourists.

She said it was NHS policy that if a person, whether an overseas visitor, asylum seeker or illegal immigrant, arrived at the accident and emergency department seeking emergency treatment, they would not be turned away.

But she added that the hospital trust must still establish whether or not the patient has been living in the UK for 12 months or more, which was in line with Department of Health regulations about hospital treatment for overseas visitors.

The spokesman added that if people came into the hospital looking for non-urgent treatment, for example a hip operation, they had to produce two forms to prove they were entitled to free NHS treatment before they were put on the waiting list.

Jon Gindlay, director of service development, said: "The hospital is responsible for establishing a patient's eligibility to receive free NHS hospital treatment.

"If they are not, then changes may be applicable for the services provided."

Last year the hospital also treated 36 overseas visitors who were covered by special agreements with health services in other countries, which meant they were entitled to free emergency NHS hospital treatment and these details were reported to the Department of Health in line with current guidelines.