Boy diagnosed with leukaemia in UK denied NHS treatment unless parents pay £825,000

A young boy diagnosed with leukaemia on a medical trip to the UK could die within days unless his family stump up £825,000 for treatment.

Little Nathaniel Nabena, 9, who had his left eye removed in home country Nigeria because of cancer, came to the UK to have a £5,000 prosthetic replacement fitted privately in November.

However, shortly before treatment he began to suffer nosebleeds and a fever.

He was diagnosed with rare acute myeloid leukaemia at South London’s Croydon University Hospital.

Nathaniel now desperately needs treatment but his family are being asked to pay the huge sum before he can be given a stem cell transplant at Great Ormond Street Hospital, reports the Mirror.

Patients from non-EU countries are charged 150% of the NHS national tariff for hospital treatment, unless exempt.

Dad Ebisidor, 45, said: “If we cannot raise the funds, hospice care is the next step.

“We are devastated. This is his last hope – except for a miracle.

“We came here hoping to fix his eye and take him home, and now he might die in weeks or maybe even days.

“I can maybe pull together £30,000, a tiny fraction of what they are asking.

“We understand rules are rules. But for every rule there’s an exception – and surely that is when it comes to a child.

“Nathaniel is worried and keeps asking why he is treated differently because he’s from a different country.”

By law, emergency care is free but non-Brits pay if admitted to hospital.

Croydon NHS Trust said: “Our hearts go out to Nathaniel and we are doing everything we can to care for him.”

Great Ormond Street have stated that the £825,000 fee will cover tests, chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

A spokesman said it had to ensure funds were available in advance.

Nathaniel’s mother Modupe, 38, and his sisters Nadia, 11, and 20-month-old Nicole recently came to the UK – costing the family another £2,000 – and are staying with relatives in Croydon, where the lad is having his treatment.

A Go Fund Me page has raised £37,000 so far.

Dad Ebisidor, a business analyst, added: “We will never stop fighting for Nathaniel.

“He is a bright, wonderful child that has so many gifts to give back to the world.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Every taxpayer supports the health service and so it is only right that overseas visitors contribute towards their treatment costs.  As the rules stand, NHS care must be paid for in advance of providing non-urgent treatment and any debts that do arise from providing urgent care will be followed up with.

“The NHS will always provide high standards of care for those who need it and repayment plans can be agreed with the provider.”

A GOSH spokesperson said: “Like many hospitals, we offer private treatment options to families – often from overseas – who are not eligible for NHS care. It is important that we ensure that the funds are available to pay for this type of care prior to it starting.”