National Insurance Card - reform? ID?

Dh and I constantly discuss they way certain things are run whether it be the US or the UK.
For the purpose of this question, I will stick with the UK.
In the UK you don't carry ID and are not required to carry your license, if you get pulled over you have 7 days to go in and show your documents...You go to most GP's or hospital, you don't show ID or you National Insurance Card...DH said I don't even know where mine is, we don't need it.

So my question is: Do you feel if you had to produce a photo ID and your National Insurance Card that illegally use of NHS would go down?

*I know they scrapped the ID scheme but a photo ID, Drivers License or passport as I am not supporting 1 type of ID but an ID that is official.

I feel if the National Insurance card showed how long valid for this would cut down some MAJOR costs.  Like when I got mine it should only show a valid date the length of my visa but DH should just state citizen. 

Am I way out of bound here? I know this would require the doctors offices and hospitals to ask for this but is it that hard?  I don't want to turn away people in an emergency but once that emergency is over THEN get required documents and or payment plan if you don't have valid National Insurance number.

Ok I just want to see where people stand at this and if I am completely crazy

You aren't required to carry ID in the US either. 

In PA you have 15 days to report with your id to police.

No person shall be convicted of violating this section or section 1501(a) (relating to drivers required to be licensed) if the person:

produces at the headquarters of the police officer who demanded to see the person's license, within 15 days of the demand, a driver's license valid in this Commonwealth at the time of the demand; or
if a citation has been filed, produces at the office of the issuing authority, within 15 days of the filing of the citation, a driver's license valid in this Commonwealth on the date of the citation.

Ok I should have taken that out I was more looking for opinion on ID and National Insurance card and if that would help keep the NHS on the up and up...Not to be used illegally

Oh  .  I think they should require something.  If you don't have it on you then should be need to present it at some point, even if it means going in with a bill later and producing your card or passport or whatever. 

I don't think you should have to carry it at all times though. 

It might add significant expense and bureaucracy though, without actually making that money back. Also, I think, in the grand scheme of things, it is better for a workforce to be encouraged to be healthy instead of being treated as if they might do something wrong.

You mean your National Health Service card, right? NHS is different from national insurance.

Hmm. Technically, someone could walk into my GP's surgery, say they were me and get treatment.

But my GP's file shows my age, height and weight so that person would have to look like me.  They would also have to have a similar medical history, because whatever treatment the GP gives is going to be based on my medical history. Also, if I see the same doctor enough, he or she is going to recognise me.

If someone wants to see a specialist, they wil have to be referred by a GP anyway.

Yes sorry I do mean National Health Service...
DH swears there are a lot of illegal people here using a lot of these services and not paying in which is why it isn't as good as it once was....So instead of just agreeing or disagreeing I was like to see how would you fix it answer instead?
DH also says well if they leave and they are illegal they obviously aren't coming back and can use any name they want too...I always try to stay positive and looking for a "fix" or a better way so its a lively discussion.  He hates the idea of having to show anything, he thinks they just shouldn't be here lol

My response was the NHS card becomes your valid insurance card and you just show photo ID to prove it is you.  Even if citizen's cards were maroon and visa holders were blue or something so at any point they could ask to see a valid visa or something...
 
Maybe not at your GP where you are registered as they have your weight ect on file but all other services,hospitals or referral doctors who don't know you.
Obviously kids under 17 wouldn't have an ID but I would hope "adults" would have some type of photo ID.

Just seeing what others thought as we have friends that work in the NHS and its a fun topic ;-)

Not sure. Where is the evidence of all these illegals using the NHS? I'm not saying there aren't any but I'd dispute that it's such a widespread problem.
Ideally what I'd like to see is that anyone, anywhere in the world, can go to a doctor or hospital and get treatment without having to pay out of pocket - there should be reciprocal agreements across all countries.

Ideally what I'd like to see is that anyone, anywhere in the world, can go to a doctor or hospital and get treatment without having to pay out of pocket - there should be reciprocal agreements across all countries.

I agree but I doubt I will see it in my lifetime.

Not sure. Where is the evidence of all these illegals using the NHS? I'm not saying there aren't any but I'd dispute that it's such a widespread problem.

Good point and I wish I had statistics and will try to look them up.  I know there are news stories left and right due to tourists and student visa to get in, they use it and stay. 
I am guessing DH and I are the only ones that discuss this

Well, the news isn't always accurate.  Agenda driven news outlets have a good time creating issues out of nothing, and since they usually stand unchallenged, they can continue to report things that are out of date, inaccurate, or misconstrued.

No one knows the number of illegals in the UK.  Even if we did know, we don't know the numbers that are using the NHS illegally.  And even if we did know that, unless you're talking about biometric IDs, this would just mean that forgers would have another relatively easy stream of income.

If it did turn out to be a big deal, I could see putting someone's picture on their records at their GP.  It might help reduce medical errors as well.  IDs wouldn't be needed, and it could be done relatively cheaply digitally.  If someone came in without a picture on their file, they would be treated, but would need to have theirs taken then. 

But blaming NHS funding on illegal immigrants is sort of like blaming the housing shortage (both for things like council rentals and general renting and buying) on illegals.  It may (or may not) be a part of the cause, but there's a lot more to it than that.

Well, the news isn't always accurate.  Agenda driven news outlets have a good time creating issues out of nothing, and since they usually stand unchallenged, they can continue to report things that are out of date, inaccurate, or misconstrued.

Well put

If it did turn out to be a big deal, I could see putting someone's picture on their records at their GP.  It might help reduce medical errors as well.  IDs wouldn't be needed, and it could be done relatively cheaply digitally.  If someone came in without a picture on their file, they would be treated, but would need to have theirs taken then. 

I certainly wouldn't think there's a major problem of identity theft in accessing medical facilities, more a case of illegals just going to an hospital and not being elligible. But, as you say, due to the nature of illegal immigrants it's impossible to know how much of a problem this is.

Plans for an ID scheme have been shelved, rightly so as it was only going to be voluntary anyway and I really don't see the point of an ID scheme if it's voluntary.

I think if you were here illegally you would probably avoid seeing doctors unless you had a true medical emergency.

Not worth exposing yourself to the risk of getting caught and getting deported.