'Health Tourists' Told to Pay for Treatment or Go Home

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FOREIGN patients at a London hospital are being withheld treatment until they pay their bills up-front.

Doctors at West Middlesex University hospital in Hounslow will stabilise patients, then quote them on any further treatment.

If they do not produce cash or credit cards to fund the treatment they are asked to leave.

The scheme is part of a new attempt to prevent "health tourists" leaving Britain without paying their bills.

A Standard investigation today reveals they have failed to pay Pounds 7 million owed to the NHS in the past year.

The patients, most of whom travelled to the UK from outside the European Union, took advantage of doctors …