GETTY Jeremy Hunt has unveiled a new £500m scheme to crack down on NHS health tourism

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Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is set to unveil a £500million scheme as he announces plans to charge all non-British residents for care they receive from GPs and hospitals. At present overseas visitors and migrants pay for certain NHS services, including non-urgent operations. The proposed changes will extend charging so that foreigners pay for care received from GPs, including diagnostic tests and scans, and accident and emergency treatment, including setting broken bones, X-rays and intensive care prior to admission. Ambulance transport costs and care received from paramedics will also be included.

GETTY The new proposals allow hospitals to charge all non-EU residents for care they receive

Although emergency care will not be denied where treatment is deemed immediately necessary, NHS healthcare will remain chargeable even if it has been provided prior to payment being received.

We want to make sure that everyone makes a fair contribution to services by extending charging to make sure visitors pay for the care they receive Jeremy Hunt

Any treatment judged non-urgent will be withheld until the fees are paid or a European health insurance card or proof of residency is produced. Vulnerable groups, including refugees and asylum seekers, will continue to be exempt from charges. Mr Hunt said: “We want to make sure that everyone makes a fair contribution to services by extending charging to make sure visitors pay for the care they receive.

GETTY Non-emergency treatment cam be withheld unless a european health insurance card is produced

GETTY The new plans are expected to save the NHS between £70m - £300m a year