Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
#16
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Location: Eee Bah Gum
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Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
I just got back from the UK on the 30th September after spending 9 weeks over there with my partner. I also had to use the GP 3 times while I was there so I am on record at that office. I am on my way back on a one way ticket at the beginning of December. I have already sent for my British passport so I am hoping that I do not have any problems with that. As soon as I arrive I will set up a bank account and I will also leave the one that I have over here open. I will also sign up with the local GP. I will take some of my medical records and my Rheumatology records and enough of my meds to last 3 to 6 months. I did accomplish one thing while I was over there. I managed to get my Nino number which I am happy about. I never drove before I left the UK back in 1978 so I guess I will have to learn how to maneuver the British roads. Last time I was on here I was told that I could drive on my US license for up to a year, should I also renew my international drivers license just to be on the safe side. I do have two questions. Will the doctors office renew my American medications or will I have to start from scratch with them? also How do you go about shipping a few odds and ends over to the UK and is it very expensive?
Thank you for listening and I look forward to any help I can get as this is a big move for me.
Thank you for listening and I look forward to any help I can get as this is a big move for me.
You will be able to drive for up to a year on your US licence. I don’t know about the international driving licence.
I only had 1 prescription that I brought over from the USA and the GP said that it was exactly what was used in the UK to treat my condition so wrote a repeat prescription immediately. If you go to the NICE site you may be able to look up either your drugs or your conditions and see if they are recommended for use by the NHS.
https://www.nice.org.uk/
#17
Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
No point in updating your international driving licence unless you intend to drive on the continent. It’s just a translation of your existing licence which is already in English. Depending on how much you intend to ship you may find it cheaper to take it as excess luggage. Alternatively use a shipping service like Seven Seas: https://www.sevenseasworldwide.com
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
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Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
To register with a GP you will need a passport or other proof of identity and some document showing your address.
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
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Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
I never drove before I left the UK back in 1978 so I guess I will have to learn how to maneuver the British roads. Last time I was on here I was told that I could drive on my US license for up to a year, should I also renew my international drivers license just to be on the safe side.
#20
fstanfield
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2001
Location: North Yorkshire UK
Posts: 82
Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
Thank you all so much for all the answers to my questions. it definitely makes it easier for me to deal with.
#21
fstanfield
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2001
Location: North Yorkshire UK
Posts: 82
Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
I have a quick question. Does anyone remember when you first got back to the UK and signed up with the GP, did you have to fill out a GMS1 form? If you did was there a part about patient declaration for patients who are not ordinarily residents in the UK. Did you fill it out? Or because you are going to be there permanently I thought you would be classed as a resident. I am just wondering as I am leaving for the UK next month and I need all the insight I can get on the medical aspect of it. Thank you so much.
#22
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Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,131
Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
I have a quick question. Does anyone remember when you first got back to the UK and signed up with the GP, did you have to fill out a GMS1 form? If you did was there a part about patient declaration for patients who are not ordinarily residents in the UK. Did you fill it out? Or because you are going to be there permanently I thought you would be classed as a resident. I am just wondering as I am leaving for the UK next month and I need all the insight I can get on the medical aspect of it. Thank you so much.
https://www.nhs.uk/Servicedirectorie...ments/GMS1.pdf
we each filled it out classed as residents because from the day we landed our intent was to remain as residents. We did enter our last UK address from 29 years earlier but couldn’t remember the name and address of our doctor at that time, so just put “can’t recall”.
#23
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 2
Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
I’m thinking about moving back home after living in the US for 30 years. It is mainly for medical reasons. Am I able to get prescriptions filled immediately when I get back once I have established a GP or do I have to wait for a period of time. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you
#24
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Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,131
Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
I’m thinking about moving back home after living in the US for 30 years. It is mainly for medical reasons. Am I able to get prescriptions filled immediately when I get back once I have established a GP or do I have to wait for a period of time. Any info would be appreciated. Thank you
I got my one prescription filled immediately. The Doc said it was exactly what the NHS prescribed for the condition I have and didn’t need to send me for tests or exam me to see if I still had the condition.
#25
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 2
Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
hi durham_lad, thank you for responding.
Did you move back recently? Like in 2018? Was wondering if rules have changed.
I do have driving license ( old but still valid) NIC , brutish passportetc
is there anything I should be aware of ?
Thx
Did you move back recently? Like in 2018? Was wondering if rules have changed.
I do have driving license ( old but still valid) NIC , brutish passportetc
is there anything I should be aware of ?
Thx
#26
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Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,131
Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
You will be able to exchange your old driving licence for a new one easily enough. Ours were 29 years old and we got new ones easily and quickly. I suggest you register to vote as soon as you are back, get onto the voter registration role.
opening a bank account might be tricky. We had kept our old account open so no problem for us.
#27
fstanfield
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2001
Location: North Yorkshire UK
Posts: 82
Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
Thank you for that answer on the GMS1 card, I will leave the Supplementary questions at the end of the form blank.
I have another question I just got my new British passport today (it feels great) and I wondered. Do I use that to go into England and then when I come back in May to attend my grandsons high school graduation use my American one to enter the USA?
Thanks in advance.
I have another question I just got my new British passport today (it feels great) and I wondered. Do I use that to go into England and then when I come back in May to attend my grandsons high school graduation use my American one to enter the USA?
Thanks in advance.
#28
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,131
Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
Thank you for that answer on the GMS1 card, I will leave the Supplementary questions at the end of the form blank.
I have another question I just got my new British passport today (it feels great) and I wondered. Do I use that to go into England and then when I come back in May to attend my grandsons high school graduation use my American one to enter the USA?
Thanks in advance.
I have another question I just got my new British passport today (it feels great) and I wondered. Do I use that to go into England and then when I come back in May to attend my grandsons high school graduation use my American one to enter the USA?
Thanks in advance.
#29
fstanfield
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2001
Location: North Yorkshire UK
Posts: 82
Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
Thank you so much.
#30
fstanfield
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2001
Location: North Yorkshire UK
Posts: 82
Re: Moving back to UK from USA and Heathcare
Well I am back again with another big question.
When I leave for the UK next month and I use my British passport for the first time, I was reading on Lindkin that when you get to the airport I need to show my US passport to Immigration first then check in to the airline with my British passport. This I don't understand because you only go through Immigration when you get to where you are going. Then when you come back to the US for any reason you just reverse the process. If anyone has used two passports going and coming from US to UK can you please give me a step by step on what you did or what to do. Its really doing my head in as I don't want anything to go wrong.
Thank you,
Fiona Stanfield
When I leave for the UK next month and I use my British passport for the first time, I was reading on Lindkin that when you get to the airport I need to show my US passport to Immigration first then check in to the airline with my British passport. This I don't understand because you only go through Immigration when you get to where you are going. Then when you come back to the US for any reason you just reverse the process. If anyone has used two passports going and coming from US to UK can you please give me a step by step on what you did or what to do. Its really doing my head in as I don't want anything to go wrong.
Thank you,
Fiona Stanfield