Norwegian MPs may have voted incorrectly on divisive new law after being 'distracted by skiing world cup'

Norwegian politicians may have voted incorrectly in parliament because they were too busy watching skiing, according to one MP.

A bill, proposing stricter rules on so-called health tourists to Norway, was narrowly passed through by 48 to 45 votes.

But Kjersti Toppe, the Centre Party politician behind the bill, admitted problems surrounded the voting because people were distracted by watching the World Skiing Championships on their smartphones and tablets.

Maiken Caspersen Falla sprinted into gold around the same time the voting took place.

“To sit in parliament is no joke,” said Ms Toppe, speaking to TV2.

“There was lots of clutter and nonsense. There were many who voted wrong and who failed to vote.

“The president had to ask people in the audience to stop looking at the World Skiing Championships and concentrate.”

The farce follows Nowegian prime minister Erna Solberg playing Pokémon Go during a parliament debate.

Liberal Party politician André N Skjelstad says he was not watching the skiing, but said he voted incorrectly because of the confusion.

“There was a little scuffle in the audience, and I gradually discovered that I had accidentally voted for it rather than against it,” he said.

The new measures will mean foreign patients being treated in Norway’s hospitals will need approval, before being treated, for there care to be state funded.

Ms Toppe added: “It adopted new strict rules to prevent health tourism and increased patient care abroad. It is important to prevent increased antibiotic resistance.”

UK tourists with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are to be given reduced medical fees or free care in Norway.

Between roughly £100m and £300m in taxpayers’ money, around 0.3 per cent of the NHS budget, is spent annually on overseas patients.

NHS trusts may force foreign patients to pay up-front for non-urgent care under a new proposal announced by Jeremy Hunt.