Health Bill [HL]

We provide counselling, but we ensure that urgent treatment is always provided and that the decision on urgency is always made by a clinical professional. If the need for treatment is not yet urgent and the person can return home, that is what they should do. Otherwise, we will ask them in advance to protect NHS resources for those entitled to use them without charge. That is the situation. However, if they do not return home and their need for treatment becomes urgent they will receive treatment even if they cannot pay for it in advance. By urgent I do not mean emergency or immediately necessary. A person whose need for treatment is urgent should not have it denied until it becomes immediately necessary, regardless of payment.