Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the report entitled Duty of Care?: The impact on midwives of NHS charging for maternity care, published on 9 September 2019, what plans he has to review the functioning of the NHS overseas visitors charging regime as a result of the findings and conclusions of that report; and if he will make a statement.

The Department is committed to continually consider evidence it receives in relation to the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors Regulations) 2015 but has no plans to formally review the functioning of the NHS overseas visitors charging regime.

The Department works closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement to support NHS providers in the delivery of the charging regime; and to ensure that providers understand the guidance and how it should be properly and consistently implemented.

This includes ensuring NHS trusts fully understand that all maternity treatment must be provided to any chargeable woman, regardless of her ability to pay, and that they must not be discouraged from receiving it.