Work

The representation of migrants in policy and parliament: A Bacchian analysis of the UK's immigration health surcharge

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Despite the promise of the NHS being open to all, charging regulations and policy for non-UK citizens have been introduced. This article reports an analysis of policies and parliamentary debates linked to the UK's Immigration Health Surcharge. We use Bacchi's 'what's the problem represented to be' approach to understand how migrants and their healthcare access are represented and problematised within current health policy and related parliamentary debates. Core problem formulations relate to historic over-generosity of the NHS to migrants and overseas visitors; a lack of fairness in contributions to the NHS by British taxpayers compared to migrants; and a threat to the NHS's long-term sustainability due to migrants' and overseas visitors' misuse. This represents migrants as a financial drain on the NHS and, consequently, a risk to its continuation. Together, the problem formulations produce a justification and rationale for the Immigration Health Surcharge and its subsequent increases.

Source: Critical Social Policy

DOI: 10.1177/02610183251386386

Authors: JOANNE ALEXANDER, AISHA MACGREGOR, LAURENCE LESSARD-PHILLIPS, TIM SEDGLEY, LIZ FORBAT

Institutions: University of Stirling, University of Birmingham

Language: English

Topic: Migration, Racism, and Human Rights

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650