Why didn't those elderly people pay into the NHS when working?
It is too many people from other countries who have brought the NHS to where it is.
Had not so many come here for free medical treatment then we would not be where we are now. And hence now you cannot get free medical treatment here any longer.
Well, I get free medical treatment, or free at the point of need; obviously I contribute in tax towards the NHS but no-one notices the little bit taken from their pay cheque once a month which goes towards it (deletions for other things may cause some stress). I know, had I been unable to work and did not now have a pension, I would get the same treatment. Those who can contribute do and thus care for those who are unable to, that is what the welfare state is all about.
Elderly people have paid into the NHS and many continue to do so until they die, according to their income.
People from overseas pay tax the same as anyone else when they are working so it is quite fair for them to receive the same benefits as anyone else in this country.
There are many who come here for treatment from countries where there is no reciprocal arrangement, and they are charged quite heftily by the NHS for treatment which causes no complaint. Or else they go private but you would be surprised how highly the NHS is rated.
I suppose you mean refugees and asylum seekers. There are plenty of English/British people whose parents or grandparents were foreigners who came to the UK seeking refuge. Given a little time and help, they work and their descendants definitely work.
It would be inhumane to turn away people in need.
Any one of us could find ourselves in a bad situation and be glad of a helping hand, let's face it, we are all going to be ill at some time or other. How would we feel if we were rejected?