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A pilot scheme set up by Jeremy Hunt to check whether patients were entitled to free NHS care found only a tiny number were ineligible, the Evening Standard can reveal.

Figures from London hospitals which asked 8,894 people for two forms of ID prior to treatment showed that only 50 — or one in 180 — had to pay for their care. Campaigners today called on the Government to abandon any plans to extend the pilot nationwide as they branded the attempted crackdown on “health tourism” a “waste of time”.

Dr Jessica Potter, of Docs Not Cops, said: “People who are most likely to be charged are the least able to pay. There is no evidence it saves the NHS an appreciable amount of money.”

The ID-checking pilots ran in selected areas in 18 NHS trusts, of which 11 were in London, for about two months last autumn. No patients were refused care but there was widespread concern that many, such as vulnerable “undocumented migrants”, potentially suffering from life-threatening or contagious diseases, could be deterred from seeking medical help.

Read more Low-paid hospital staff at Barts Health cut out of NHS pay rise

Doctors held a protest outside St Thomas’s hospital as the trials started.

All those attending A&E units, including overseas patients, are entitled to free emergency care. Non-UK nationals are charged for non-urgent care or the costs are reclaimed under reciprocal agreements with EU nations.

Health Secretary Mr Hunt said he wanted the pilots to help “chargeable patients make more informed choices about whether they continue to seek care in England when the cost is made clear”. Barts Health asked 2,752 patients attending outpatient renal clinics at the Royal London hospital for ID. Two were found ineligible for free treatment and billed a total of £2,500.

It also found 17 of 1,497 maternity patients at Newham hospital ineligible and billed them £104,706. Inquiries continue into a further 77 patients.

Barts Health said it had continued to ask for up-front ID in these departments but had shelved plans to extend the checks to maternity and orthopaedics at the Royal London.

Dr Ron Singer, chairman of Newham Save Our NHS, claimed the trials were “part of the Government’s hostile environment policy” that resulted in uproar over the treatment of Windrush migrants. “If you go to Newham hospital you will see huge signs saying you may not be eligible for free NHS treatment. The hostility is right in your face.”

St George’s, in Tooting, which at one stage was owed £5 million by overseas patients, checked 1,660 maternity patients over five months. Eighteen were found to be ineligible and were billed a total of £45,000. It also checked neurology and neurosurgery patients.

Barking, Havering and Redbridge trust screened 1,021 women attending maternity at Queen’s hospital. Eleven were ineligible and were each billed £6,500. It has since ended the checks.

The Department of Health declined to say whether the ID checks would be abandoned in light of the trial. It said: “We are considering the findings from the evaluation before deciding on next steps with NHS England and NHS Improvement.” @RossLydall