SIR – Re your editorial comment (T&A, August 2) “We have to stop drain on the NHS”.

It is quite right that we must fulfil our obligations to treat foreign nationals who need health checks or urgent medical treatment.

In view of the large sums owed to the NHS for treatments unpaid, it appears that our financial managers are simply not geared into the situation as it exists today.

More questions need to be asked at the point of registration as to whether patients are fully covered by health insurance, or “how do you intend to pay for this treatment?” and the options made clear.

It should also be made known that as far as the British taxpayer is concerned, NHS treatment is certainly not free of charge overall. So more initial control should be exercised.

One way of obtaining settlement in the future might be to take an imprint of a patient’s credit card, much as we do in hotels for example at home or abroad. When the cost of analysis or diagnosis, treatment or medication is finalised, the charge could then be put through for payment.

Roger Craven, Cliffe Avenue, Harden