NHS must stop prioritising failed asylum seekers over general public, senior Tory warns
THE NHS must stop prioritising failed asylum seekers over the general public, a senior Tory has warned.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick took aim at the health service after learning of policies to let migrants skip soaring wait times.
Trusts across Britain have bespoke schemes for undocumented immigrants and those who have been refused asylum, a newspaper investigation found.
But Mr Jenrick told The Sun on Sunday: “Failed asylum seekers should be being deported at scale, but instead the NHS is rolling out the red carpet for them.
“This is a slap in the face for hard-working Brits, whose interests we must put first.
“As long as absurd policies like this continue, we will remain the illegal migrant capital of Europe.”
At one London hospital migrants are seen usually within 15 minutes, while another offers walk-in services to failed asylum seekers and the undocumented.
But other patients face waits of up to 12 hours in A&E this winter.
An NHS spokesperson said: “The NHS is legally required to provide healthcare services to asylum seekers and migrants, which are free at the point of use.
“Local integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning these services based on need.
“ICBs also have a legal duty to address inequalities in access to services, which can include rolling out dedicated services while also supporting all those who need care.”