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<p>The Department has recently reviewed the impact of changes introduced by the Amendment
Regulations with a particular focus on the extent to which there are any unintended
consequences for the most vulnerable. The outcomes of this review will be published
in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not collect data on the number of
women who do not access maternity care because of concerns about National Health Service
charging policies.</p><p> </p><p>The national guidance is clear that NHS maternity
treatment should always be considered as immediately necessary and provided to all
patients regardless of whether or not they are entitled to receive it free of charge
or there are doubts about whether they could pay if subsequently found to be chargeable
under the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2015,
as amended.</p><p> </p><p>Providers of NHS care need to ensure that they take necessary
and appropriate steps to recover the cost of providing treatment to those not entitled
to NHS-funded care. National guidance recommends that providers of NHS care should
consider employing the services of a debt recovery agency that specialises in the
recovery of overseas debt except in relation to persons whom it is clear to the relevant
body will be unable to pay.</p>
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