NHS Audit Requirements (Foreign Nationals) Bill

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to instruct the National Health Service to record and audit the cost of treatment of individuals not entitled to free health care and of foreign nationals under the European Health Insurance Card Scheme and other reciprocal healthcare agreements; and for connected purposes.

Originating House

House of Commons

Parliament last updated

26 April 2013

In Plain English

AI-generated

May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.

This bill would require the Secretary of State to instruct the National Health Service to record and audit the cost of treatment for two groups: people who are not entitled to free NHS care, and foreign nationals covered by the European Health Insurance Card scheme or other reciprocal healthcare agreements. It aims to make these treatment costs transparent and subject to audit, with related purposes to be defined later.

Key Points

The Secretary of State would require the NHS to record and audit costs of treatment for individuals not entitled to free NHS care.
It applies to foreign nationals using the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) scheme and other reciprocal healthcare agreements.
The bill sets out the scope and purposes for recording and auditing these costs.
NHS organisations and staff would be responsible for implementing and maintaining the recording and auditing processes.
The measure is intended to improve transparency and accountability of NHS spending on non-entitled and foreign-national care.

Progress

The bill is currently at the 2nd reading in the House of Commons. It originated in the Commons, with its first reading dated 11 September 2012.

Who is affected?

People who receive NHS treatment but are not entitled to free careForeign nationals receiving NHS treatment (including EHIC users) and those under reciprocal healthcare agreementsUK taxpayers (as funders of NHS costs and any resulting accounting reforms)NHS staff and administrators responsible for recording and auditing treatment costs

Generated 21 February 2026

Bill Stages

1st readingCommons

11 Sept 2012

2nd readingCommons

Committee stageCommons

Report stageCommons

3rd readingCommons

1st readingLords

2nd readingLords

Committee stageLords

Report stageLords

3rd readingLords

Royal Assent

Updates & Documents

News (1)

News - NHS Audit Requirements (Foreign Nationals)

1 Jan 1970

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress.

Parliamentary Votes (0)

No recorded votes for this bill yet.