What happens when a foreign person comes to the UK and needs medical care?

If a foreign person is over on holiday I know they would normally have insurance to cover any treatment they need, but how does it work here in the UK? Firstly, do NHS hospitals charge foreign people whilst on holiday like they do in the US, and secondly if an illegal immigrant came here, and needed medical care for, let's say a heart condition, would they be able to get it for free in our UK hospitals? My husband and I are disagreeing over this and I'd like someone to put the record straight!!

EU nationals take out a European health insurance card, which entitles them to the same standard of health care as local people would receive. http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/he...
As it is free for UK nationals who spend two thirds of their time in the UK, so it is free for them.

Foreigners from non EU States are supposed to take out private insurance cover and pay privately. However, many people abuse the system, including people who could well afford to pay, and at the end of their treatment simply leave without paying.

As far as asylum seekers are concerned, the need for medical treatment of any kind is not a valid ground for being admitted to the UK and if this were the primary purpose of coming, then it would be a ground for turning down their application for asylum and sending them home. Again, this doesn't seem to happen much in practice.

The whole system is in a mess. I know people who are domiciled in the UK and paying into the system there, but working away from the UK on a temporary basis who fall foul of the two thirds rule (not away for more than four months a year) and are refused treatment when home. I also know people who are domiciled in countries other than the UK who for some reason are able to go to the UK to receive treatment on a regular basis.

Health tourism is a big debate right now in the UK as the NHS comes up to it's 60th Birthday - Happy Birthday NHS.

EU citizens are advised to have medical insurance when travelling anywhere in the EU - the NHS will take care of most things, accidents etc., but it will not take care of a person trying to get medical treatment for some long-term illness.

Is 'health tourism' really draining NHS finances? Mark Gould ...14 May 2008 ... The heat of that debate will increase this summer when a government consultation will propose even tighter restrictions on NHS access for ...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/m...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZaUoRYIQ...

If they are an EU citizen there are reciprocal arrangements for free health treatment.
If they are not they are only entitled to free care if in a road accident, but the hospital administrators are supposed to record details for insurance claim procedures. For anything else the patient must pay, but I understand that they never do because the unions have told their members that it is a racist act to ask for details, and every hospital administration clerk is scared of the PC brigade and the Race Relations Industry, because if reported they would be sacked. If you go to a private hospital and are not insured for their treatments you have to pay up front, at least someone runs a sensible system, it can be done.

firstly they are entitled to free medical emergency care if they are an eu citizen with a e111 or whatever the new name is for it, just as we in the uk are if we travel within the uk. with regard to other countries as has been said emergency treatment would be provided but if they have travel inurance they would be expected to claim on that.
i cannot imagine any a and e refusing to treat anyone in a genuine emergency.

Although Nhs isnt perfect generally everyone receives the same level of care unlike the american health care system the nhs is still a non profit univeral health care system which is extended to all citizens and foreign visitors. So dont worry about having to pay for an ambulance if you need it.

everyone foreign gets it gratis us hard working english pay the bill but you need any help from the govenment hard luck suffer i'm of sick and all i get is 拢70 a kin week now how does that grab you

The NHS will never refuse a person who has a life threatening condition this much I know. If they are in for something like an ingrown toe nail...I dont know what would happen but i assume they would be treated.

Emergency treatment (A&E) is free, a non resident would have to pay for other treatment.

But the NHS do not seem to check!

It just like in the U S They well take care of you But don't tell them this as they love to think we yanks let people die in the street and their medical care is free It makes me happy