Lifestyle

Outrage Grows as Migrants Get NHS Freebies While Brits Still Pay Up

Published on July 1, 2025

There’s fresh anger bubbling over claims that migrants arriving in the UK by small boats are being handed access to a range of free NHS services, while ordinary Brits are still footing the bill for their own care. A letter reportedly found outside an asylum hotel in Derby has sparked backlash, as it outlines what some see as unfair perks.

According to The Sun, the letter was addressed to a migrant staying at the hotel and confirmed he and his partner were eligible for free NHS sight tests, prescriptions, dental treatment, glasses, wigs and even fabric supports. While it’s no secret that the NHS provides essential care, the mention of wigs and broader support for people who haven’t yet officially settled in the country has hit a nerve.

The revelation couldn’t come at a worse time for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is already facing mounting pressure to get a grip on illegal immigration. His promise to bring numbers down and crack down on Channel crossings is being tested, especially as figures show a record 18,518 crossings so far this year — the highest ever for this point in the calendar, reported the Express.

Locals are fuming. Paul Davies, a 67-year-old retired machine worker, told The Sun, “They are getting more benefits than we do. I have to pay for my own dental treatment and prescriptions.” And it’s that kind of sentiment that’s fuelling frustration among many who feel like they’re constantly asked to do more with less, while newcomers seem to get a better deal.

Talks between the UK and France are reportedly in progress over a possible “one-for-one” migrant swap scheme. The idea would see migrants who’ve crossed into Britain returned to France, while the UK accepts others who have a legitimate reason to join family members already living here.

But not everyone’s buying it. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp didn’t mince his words, saying, “We pay the French half a billion pounds to wave the boats off from Calais, and in return we get a migrant merry-go-round where the same number still come here. The French are failing to stop the boats at sea, failing to return them like the Belgians do, and now instead of demanding real enforcement, Labour are trying a one in, one out gimmick.”

There’s growing concern that these policies and concessions are sending the wrong message — both to smugglers who profit from the crossings and to the public who are already feeling the squeeze. With the NHS under pressure, and many people struggling to cover basic costs like dental treatment or eye care, the idea that anyone could get a free pass simply for arriving by boat isn’t sitting well.

The Government insists it wants to shut down the criminal gangs running these routes, but with each new story, it gets harder to convince people that the current system is anywhere near under control.

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