Editha

When we move back on July 1st we will be registering with the local GP practice. Neither of us will need any urgent treatment, but my husband does have a serious condition which will need referral to a clinic. It would be good if that could happen sooner rather than later.

I know the law -- that we have to be ordinarily resident in the UK to get treatment. We will have severed all ties with Canada, other than the payment of two small pensions to my husband. The only property we own is in the UK, all of my income is in the UK, and most of my husband's will be from the UK. Plus, he will be on the faculty of the local university.

I think we will satisfy the test for ordinary residency immediately. But, an article in today's Daily Telegraph suggests the test is residency for six months.

I think the article is wrong, since it is contradicted by the advice given by Age UK and the CAB, and even the Gov.Uk site, but I'd like to know what ex-pats moving back have actually experienced. Were you accepted onto your GP's NHS list immediately or not?

NiHao

I am very interested in the answer to this question too. Also exactly what sort of information or proof have people been asked to supply. Whether that be info to fill in on a registration form or paperwork to provide.

Like Editha I would especially be grateful to hear from people who have actually recently registered with a dr upon their return, as opposed to what the answer is in theory.

thanks!

windsong

I am interested, too. I thought you could get healthcare the next day!

Sally Redux

Is it this one?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/p...rom-Spain.html

A very unclear article. It looks like the journalist may have got mixed up about people who have retired to Spain but are wanting to use NHS services.

Editha

It looks that way to me too. I've been googling like crazy, and it does look to me as if six months is used as a 'rule of thumb' by some in the NHS, but it isn't the law or a fixed rule.

Sally Redux

A few have reported being fine with registering on the spot, but I can't exactly remember who.

I'm not sure what would happen in the worst case - pay for a GP consultation and initial consultation with a specialist? Probably not that expensive. But I honestly think you'll be fine.

Editha

I don't remember anybody saying they had a problem either. But, we'll have to wait until it's daytime in the UK to hear from the ones who are back already.

MoshiMoshi

I registered with a GP when we relocated back from the States 14 months ago, and registered with a new practice when we moved again last month. Both times I needed:

- proof of ID (passport, UK driving license, birth certificate)
- proof of address (bank statement, tenancy agreement, utility bill, Inland Revenue/benefits/other government letter; not more than 3 months old)

It also helps if you know your NHS number, and the name/address of your previous UK doctor. You have to fill in a health questionnaire and have a new patient appointment.

I haven't read the article but it sounds wrong to me! There's often confusion about NHS eligibility, but if you have the right paperwork then it's pretty straightforward to register with a GP.

Incidentally, I had to go through additional checks to access maternity care at the local hospital, as (I presume) nipping back to the UK for 6 months to have a free NHS birth is a tempting option for some expats!

brits1

Hi

We moved back to the UK just over 3 years ago now after spending over 12 years in Australia , I just visited the local Medical Centre and enrolled my family. We have received any treatments etc we have needed without any questions. Good luck

mikelincs

As long as you can show that you are a UK resident, utility bill, rental agreement etc, then you should have no problem, when we came back, to the same town we had left from, we found that I had never been taken off thier list, but my wife had, all she had to do was to get her NHS number and fill in the form.

TheEmperorIsNaked

Same. I just went down and registered. They must have asked for something! events since have wiped that off my mind, but was it difficult or complex? No.

Good luck. I'm completely aware that we all have different experiences, and sometimes wonder if that has less to do with system regulations, but more the interpretation of them by the individual we first deal with!

lf1

Within a couple of weeks of moving back, I visited my local medical practice and filled in a form to be registered as a patient. In my case, no ID was required. I was asked to make an appointment with the doctor for a very basic check up and to submit some of the usual samples.

curleytops

I had no bother registering when I came back in 2011 after a 45 year absence. I left the UK as a child back in the 1960's and just supplied the information I could along with passport, birth certificate etc. Had the routine new patient appointment with the surgery nurse a week or so later and my NHS number arrived by post shortly after that.

dunroving

7 years since I did it, but it was very straightforward.

I also was in our local clinic last week and stood next to someone who had just come back from Canada with their kids and Canadian wife. He too had no problem - the clinic staff were very accommodating.

The media seems to pick up on half-truths possible plans, etc. and run with them very cavalierly as if they were hard truth.

For every dramatic, inaccurate story there are a dozen accurate ones - but of course we tend to latch onto the one that is dramatic and inaccurate!

chris955

We just went into the village surgery and registered, we didnt need to show them anything and were on the books immediately.