The London hospital used by Nigerian mums flying in for free maternity care

NIGERIAN women are flying to Britain to have their babies at a south London hospital because they know there are NO checks on nationality or eligibility.

By Katie Mansfield

Nigerian woman are flying to Britain for free maternity care
The problem is so acute that bosses are FINALLY considering introducing passport checks on women who have no right to treatment in British hospitals.

Health chiefs have long warned of an ‘escalating’ problem with women flying to Britain to have their children knowing they will get free top notch care, courtesy of the British tax payer.

And a high proportion of expectant foreign mothers who have no right to access the NHS maternity services continue to target St George's Hospital in Tooting.
There is growing evidence that this deliberate UK health tourism has become a commoditised business in Nigeria.

Now bosses are proposing ID checks and the Home Office is said to be keen to support the proposed pilot scheme with a view to potentially rolling the system out across the country.

Under the proposals every pregnant woman would be expected to show a photo ID and utility bill when they arrive for a scan to prove they are entitled to free NHS care.

Those unable to prove eligibility will be referred to the Overseas Patient Team for further investigation with the backing of the Home Office.

Managers at St George’s said Nigerian women were using the south London hospital as an international health service.
St George's is targeted as it does not currently have a robust process to check eligibility

Jo Johnson, NHS trust

Writing in an email to board members, head of private and overseas patients for the NHS trust, Jo Johnson, said: "The problem is escalating within obstetrics and we have just been made aware that individuals are currently offering paid assistance to women in Nigeria to have their babies for free on the NHS at St George's.

"St George's is targeted as it does not currently have a robust process to check eligibility.

"We know from feedback from other non-eligible patients that St George's is viewed as an 'easy target."

Four in five overseas patients at St George’s flee before paying for their care with the hospital losing approximately £4.6million a year from health tourists.

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