Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to suspend NHS charges for secondary care for non-EEA visitors who require hospital treatment for covid-19 after their arrival in the UK.

Novel coronavirus COVID-19 has been added to Schedule 1 of the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations.

This means, as for any other infectious disease in Schedule 1, there can be no charge made to an overseas visitor for the diagnosis, or, if positive, treatment, of this coronavirus.

No charge applies to a diagnostic test even if the result is negative. Also, no charge can apply to any treatment provided up to the point that it is negatively diagnosed.