Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he approved the practice of sharing patients’ identities with credit check firms to find overseas visitors who can be charged; if he will take steps to put an end to that practice; and if he will make a statement.

This Government is committed to ensuring that the public's data is used lawfully, with respect and that the right safeguards are in place.

Eligibility for free National Health Service secondary care is based on being ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. Providers of this care are required by law to make and recover charges from patients who are not ordinarily resident in the UK, unless an exemption from charge category applies.

How they undertake the duty of establishing the residence status of their patients and if charges apply is a matter for them but in doing so they must ensure they act without discrimination and comply with the current legal framework.