UK Immigration: British Royal Navy Sailor’s Daughter Refused NHS Treatment

This week, a British Citizen that served for the British Royal Navy has been left devastated after being told by Immigration Officials that his 13 year old daughter who is battling cancer cannot be treated in the UK. Roamel Crichton, moved to the UK in 2003 to pursue a career in the Royal Navy. His daughter, Dedra Crichton lives in  St Vincent, Caribbean where he was originally born. The reason Miss Crichton is being refused treatment and faces deportation from the UK is because she is not a British Citizen. Therefore, failing to comply with the UK Immigration Rules. 

13 Year Old Cancer Patient Faces Deportation

Both Mr Crichton and Miss Crichton entered the UK a week ago after Mr Crichton rushed to St Vincent, Caribbean when he heard the diagnosis of his daughter’s illness. Mr Crichton was eager to bring his daughter back to the UK after doctors in his country of origin admitted that the facilities and resources are better in the UK for treating Miss Crichton’s cancer. Upon arrival at Gatwick Airport Miss Crichton was stopped by Immigration Officials and told that she would have to return to St Vincent, Caribbean within a week. Despite this warning Mr Crichton took his daughter to the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, North London. The results were not one that any parent would want to hear, there was immediate concerns about the severity of her condition. Miss Crichton was booked in for surgery the next morning. Mr Crichton explains how his relief of his daughter being treated immediately changed to panic:

“The first doctors we saw were great and told her “we’re going to look after you and make sure you walk out of here. But then officials started investigating and we were told she’s not British and may not qualify for NHS treatment.”

Although Miss Crichton was due to travel back to St Vincent, Caribbean yesterday it has been postponed as there was no appropriate adult to travel back with her. This immigration case is still developing.

UK Government want to Crackdown on Health Tourism

It is a hard case to digest due the seriousness of the child’s condition and the contribution that her father has made to the UK. The UK Government has made it very clear that they want to crack down on immigration and reduce the amount on people that abuse our system. The UK NHS have also made it clear that they would like to limit the access to the NHS due to the rise in health tourism which costs taxpayers up to £2 billion a year.

Miss Crichton was born and raised in St Vincent therefore she does not require a visa to enter the UK and can stay in the country for up to 30 days. However, Non-UK residents will be charged for hospital treatments. If you are an overseas visitor to the UK you may be charged for some treatments and, depending on how urgent it is, you will usually have to pay in advance. The finer details of Miss Crichton’s case are not known so it is hard to report whether the UK Immigration Officials and the NHS’s refusal to allow treatment are justifiable.

New Law Acquiring British Citizenship

Another important fact is that Mr Crichton is a British citizen which may allow him to confer his citizenship to his daughter. The Immigration Act 2014 received a royal assent on 14 May 2014. On 6 April 2015, section 65 of the Act inserted new registration provisions (sections 4E to 4J) into the British Nationality Act 1981 for persons born before 1 July 2006.

The new provisions are:

1. Those who would have become British citizens automatically under the 1981 Act provisions had their parents been married.

2. Those who would currently have an entitlement to registration under the 1981 Act provisions but for the fact that their parents are not married.

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