From: Gordon Lorimer
Topic: Overseas patient payments

I read the article on overseas patients’ payments with great interest (‘Foreign debt written off in NHS’, January 25, www.nationalhealthexecutive.com).

Many of our customers have said that the ability of many overseas patients to pay is NOT in question, it is the convenience: “…because we can not take payments immediately and offer to invoice the claim arrives when the patient is home and well. At best it is a low priority!”

Our check-in kiosks, used by UCLH, Chelsea and Westminster, King’s, The Royal Free and St George’s can have credit card payment facilities added to make it easier for the patient to pay when the cost/benefit case is very obvious to them.

Our kiosks also make it very easy for a patient to enter /amend /check their details. This visual check is much more effective that a vocal check – particularly with a different language!

Gordon Lorimer is managing director of InTouch with Health