People living abroad but still using our NHS

Anyone living in France or Germany, Sweden and in many other parts of Europe would say the health services in those countries is better - more public investment in healthcare, more staff, more beds , not such horrendous waiting times etc. The NHS is no longer the envy of the world. I’m sure it’s better than some impoverished countries, but that’s a low bar.

I am more annoyed that so many who have never paid into our system abuse our NHS. Many Medical tourists with HIV fly into the U.K, become ill and head to the nearest hospital to be diagnosed therefore ensuring a lifetime of free medication. They fly into the UK every 3 months and pick up their free prescription.

grannypiper

I am more annoyed that so many who have never paid into our system abuse our NHS. Many Medical tourists with HIV fly into the U.K, become ill and head to the nearest hospital to be diagnosed therefore ensuring a lifetime of free medication. They fly into the UK every 3 months and pick up their free prescription.

Do you have a verifiable source of information for that assumption?

It's very specific. They fly in every 3 months - really? There must be some data on it, right?

It's strange because my hospital has notices up all over the places indicating that treatment is not 'free' for everyone - and that patients who are not domiciled in the UK will be expected to pay.

You cannot get a free prescription without a National Health number, and you have to have proof of residency to have such a number - so how do they get their free prescriptions?

When I told my GP I was going to live abroad he said he would be happy for me to come and see him for a chat. But he could neither treat me nor refer me for anything because you can't be in two systems at once.

Treatment for HIV is available free on the NHS to everyone. The consequences of it not being so are unthinkable.

I’ve waited 8 months for a appointment for ENT and still waiting perforated ear drum but not urgent! Can’t do my job properly as I can’t hear well but that’s ok.

I have a relative who lives abroad. Currently over here waiting for a procedure. Yes it is very, very wrong.
Said relative, to put it politely, is as tight as a duck's bottom. When over here for NHS services they phone around family to get free board and meals. Most do their best to avoid it, being wise to their ways.
And they are always looking for a free lift and would never consider getting a taxi, or paying towards fuel

Rant over.

Mamie

The Overseas Health team in Newcastle who issue the S1 forms say that we must carry our forms when in the UK and if any medical professional or hospital argues that we are not entitled to treatment, we should tell them to ring Newcastle who will explain that we are.

The Overseas Health team is wrong, if it's claiming that all UK pensioners in receipt of a state pension are entitled to healthcare in the country where they now live.

"If you get a UK State Pension
If you move to an EU country or Switzerland and receive a UK State Pension, you may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK.

If you moved to Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland before 1 January 2021 and receive a UK state pension, you also may be entitled to healthcare paid for by the UK.

To get help you must apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an 'S1 form'.

If you receive a UK State Pension and a pension from the country you have moved to, you may not get an S1 form. This is because the country you live in is responsible for your healthcare.

If you receive your UK State Pension as well as a pension from an EU country or Switzerland, but are now living in a different country, the country you paid contributions in for longest time may be responsible for your healthcare."

nhsbsa-live.powerappsportals.com/knowledgebase/article/KA-01285/en-us

There is no automatic entitlement for all UK pensioners.

vegansrock

Anyone living in France or Germany, Sweden and in many other parts of Europe would say the health services in those countries is better - more public investment in healthcare, more staff, more beds , not such horrendous waiting times etc. The NHS is no longer the envy of the world. I’m sure it’s better than some impoverished countries, but that’s a low bar.

Yes, my friend is always saying how the health system in her host country is so much better than the NHS, whilst availing herself of both, and having never paid into either.

I am fond of her, and don't want to see her ill with no treatment, but it really isn't fair, and the moaning is really irritating.

"However, if you were living in an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 and you have an S1 you will be able to use NHS services in England without charge when visiting the UK. An S1 is for those who have their healthcare in the EU paid for by the UK and is available to those who get a UK State Pension or some other UK benefits, and posted workers, who are people working abroad for UK companies or organisations.

The Withdrawal Agreement locks in the S1 rights so that those who were resident in an EU country before 31st December 2020 but do not yet qualify for an S1 will be able to apply for one when they reach retirement age. If you arrive after 31st December 2020 you will not be able to use an S1 to obtain coverage in EU countries or in the UK when visiting the UK."

Your S1 only gives you eligibility if were resident in an EU country before 31 December 2020. Any pensioners moving after that date will not be eligible.

A friend of mine has lived in France for 30 years now and is in his 70s. He has always had amazing care from the French health service.

Facts, Facts, Facts. Please can we have some references to verifiable facts from a reputable source.

growstuff

Every time I go to a hospital appointment, I have to answer the question "Are you ordinarily resident/or do you normally live in the UK?" Presumably some people just lie.

I have had over 100 hospital appointments on the last 2 years...I have never been asked that ....only asked for my date of birth , postcode and house number

My DD did the opposite. She lived with me in Spain while I was working there and gave birth to DGS in their health service. A massively huge improvement on the British NHS. She was ill afterwards. Had a gastroscopy, 2 colonoscopies, an MRI and an ultrasound. Also 3 weeks of inpatient stay. All within a month.

Why any Brit would return to the UK for the NHS from Spain I have no idea.

The poor thing! Having all those procedures so soon after giving birth would be hideous wherever they happened.

LOUISA1523

growstuff

Every time I go to a hospital appointment, I have to answer the question "Are you ordinarily resident/or do you normally live in the UK?" Presumably some people just lie.

I have had over 100 hospital appointments on the last 2 years...I have never been asked that ....only asked for my date of birth , postcode and house number

Well, I have - every single time.

I've had 12 hospital appointments since 29 April this year.

M0nica

Facts, Facts, Facts. Please can we have some references to verifiable facts from a reputable source.

Well, I've tried.

I haven't had to fill that in, but on the letter that comes with appointment details there has often been a section pointing out that if you are not a UK resident you can't get free NHS treatment.

I've found one:

I am not sure what you are talking about growstuff. The Overseas Health team were saying exactly what the document that I had quoted says and you are repeating that quotation. They were talking to me, a state pensioner in France, who has lived here for many years.
We are entitled to an S1 form to pay for our medical treatment here and treatment by the NHS in the UK as presumably were the people the OP was talking to.
Where is the disagreement?

So in summary, if you are resident abroad and have an S1 form issued by the the Overseas Healthcare team in Newcastle you are entitled to treatment from the NHS when in the UK. If you don't have an S1 form then you do not have that entitlement.

I've lived in Spain for nearly 20 years and know several people that go to the UK hospital treatment. I really can't think why. I can usually get an appointment at the gp within a day. A hospital referral may take a couple of weeks. I get regular blood tests , ecg s etc. I've had 2 new knees with at home physio visits.
A friend from the UK had a medical emergency while back in the UK. She was rushed into hospital. They refused to take any payment despite her fessing up to living in Spain.

Joseanne

When I told my GP I was going to live abroad he said he would be happy for me to come and see him for a chat. But he could neither treat me nor refer me for anything because you can't be in two systems at once.

From official NHS website, this is very clear.

'If you're moving abroad on a permanent basis, you'll no longer automatically be entitled to medical treatment under normal NHS rules. This is because the NHS is a residence-based healthcare system. You'll have to notify your GP practice so you and your family can be removed from the NHS register.'

if you do not, your GP will continue to be paid an annual fee, and you will be taking a space on a GP list that could be given to someone else.

Mamie

So in summary, if you are resident abroad and have an S1 form issued by the the Overseas Healthcare team in Newcastle you are entitled to treatment from the NHS when in the UK. If you don't have an S1 form then you do not have that entitlement.

Thank you. This S1 thing is interesting.

I’m sure it’s better than some impoverished countries, but that’s a low bar.

Wow. What an insult to the NHS, and how insensitive to the real problems of people who actually live in the poorest countries of the world.

There are many attempts online, such as this one, to rank the healthcare systems of individual countries and we typically stand somewhere between 10th and 20th. Yes, it would be wonderful to be number 1, but we still have good reason to be thankful for what we have.

worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/best-healthcare-in-the-world