Doctors issue warning over plans to charge Non-European patients for A&E

Jeremy Hunt believes the measures could save the NHS £500 million a year.

Officials insist that no one requiring urgent medical attention will be turned away (Getty)

Doctors have issued a warning that they must not be treated as “border guards” after it emerged overseas patients are to be charged for emergency healthcare.

In a bid to tackle so-called “health tourism” Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, believes the measures under consultation could save the NHS £500 million a year, according to the Times. At present the service faces an annual shortfall of £30 billion in the next parliament.

Mr Hunt intends to force people from outside the EU – who already pay for planned hospital treatment – to also pay for treatment at A&E departments. Officials have insisted that no one requiring urgent medical attention will be turned away.

A spokesperson for the department of health told the Times: “International visitors are welcome to use the NHS, provided they pay for it — just as families living in the UK do through their taxes.

“This government was the first to introduce tough measures to clamp down on migrants accessing NHS care and we have always been clear we want to look at extending charges.”

The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, has raised concerns about the plans. A spokesman said: "A doctor's duty is to treat the patient in front of them, not to act as a border guard.

"Any plans to charge migrants and short-term visitors need to be practical, economic and efficient and must not jeopardise access to healthcare for those who need it."