Accessing Services

I notice that there has been some rather hysterical reaction to proposals that people looking to access health and other services in the UK - should, in future, be required to identify who they are and whether or not there is a cost involved - which they should be required to meet.

Now having travelled quite a bit in Europe, I can't quite understand what the problem is - unless it's all just a bit of a storm in a teacup, of course. 

Because if you turn up at an Acccident & Emergency centre in Spain, for example, which I have in recent times - then in order not to be charged for your treatment, you are required to show an E111 card.

Now this is an NHS card - issued in the UK before you travel - which entitles UK citizens to receive reciprocal health treatment in other member countries of the European Union (EU).

Easy peasy, as the saying goes - and if you don't have an E111 card then presumably any sensible person will have taken out travel insurance - to protect themselves from this kind of misadventure. 

In which case what's the problem about applying the same rules in this country?

The same is true, by and large, when it comes to accessing other services - for example, to book a hotel room in Europe requires people to produce a passport or identity card - a copy of which is kept for future reference. 

Proof of a person's ability to pay for their room - normally a credit card - is standard procedure, just in case you decide to empty the hugely expensive contents of the mini bar. 

Likewise with the rental of a hire car - people don't just walk in one door and out the other without producing valid identity and driving licence documents - and the people involved on either side of these transactions comply with the arrangements without batting an eyelid.

So get real, I say - all this manufactured outrage is a waste of time and energy, especially when what's being proposed is simply common sense - particularly when public money is involved.