Should Pregnant Women Bring Passports To Hospital? Clive Says Yes

12 October 2016, 12:05 | Updated: 12 October 2016, 12:23

It's a hugely contentious question that sparked a big debate on Clive's show: do we need to get pregnant women to start bringing their passport to hospitals to prove they're entitled to free care?

Caller Chris phoned up and proclaimed: "I can't believe what I'm hearing!

"It's just appalling. What happens if the pregnant woman turns up, hasn't got a passport, what does she do? Have to go on a park bench and have the baby there?"

But Clive was keen to bring Chris back down to earth: "Nobody is suggesting that if you're about to give birth, that you wouldn't be helped.

"They are suggesting that if you turn up prior to the acutal giving birth...you are asked whether you are entitled to NHS care. That is something standard in many other countries. What's wrong with that?

"It's too much of a worry to find your passports when you're six months pregnant?"

Chris: "Probably for a lot of women it isn't. But there's going to be a minority of them...that are probably very stressed, very vulnerable."

"Well hard luck!" said Clive. "Just find your passport, what's the problem?"