CAMPAIGNERS will stage a protest against the government’s plans to charge foreign patients for non-emergency care in NHS hospitals.

Save Our NHS Waltham Forest will join protesters in a national march in London on Saturday, March 4, to oppose the plans aimed at curbing health tourism.

Campaign organiser Jim Fagan said the NHS is at a “critical point” and claimed the plans are being used to distract people from the real issues affecting the health service.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced that NHS hospitals in England would be required to charge foreign patients upfront for non-urgent care from April.

Mr Fagan said: “It is aimed at health tourism but this is not a major problem. We think it is being used to distract people from government cuts.

“This would mean everybody will have to show their ID and this will mean vulnerable refugees will not go and get treatment – that is not what the NHS is about.

“The main issue in the NHS is underfunding.”

Emergency care will still be provided to foreign nationals who will later be invoiced.

It is estimated that treating foreign patients costs the NHS £2billion every year.

In January Waltham Forest Council rejected the government’s Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) for the NHS.

The plans would have seen GPs in the borough replaced with less qualified staff.

Mr Fagan added: “We are really pleased that Waltham Forest Council is not going along with the STP process and we want to build on that and tell the central government they are going down the wrong road.”

Campaigners will meet at Leytonstone station near Church Lane at 11.15am and at Walthamstow Town Square at 11.30am on Saturday, March 4 before travelling to the march.

The event will start at 12noon in Tavistock Square and protesters will march to Parliament.