honeymommy

It will depend on your condition and the reason for the checks.


I had to have 6 monthly mamogram and ultrasound checks post cancer in the USA. On returning to the UK I was told it was unnessary and told to come back when I was 50 or if I felt a lump with regard to the breast.. (I have lumps I can't feel but can be seen under ultrasound). Also had uterine cancer. Had hysterectomy but they left ovaries intact. NHS cancer follow up is poor... I am currently argueing for regular checks of my ovaries.
I bought with me a surgeon letter stating I needed my ovaries removed now as I had reached 40.. The NHS refused. I also have private heath care that will not help.

I understand that frequent exposure from xrays etc is harmful, but for me I was more worried about getting cancer again.

Obviously I don't know your condition therefore cannot comment on what you will get. I do know there are guidlines here they follow, mostly controlled by budget and statistical risk.

It may be worth checking a UK site about your condition and asking them what the UK recomendations are with regard to ongiong tests.

Sorry I cannot be more positive, but hope you get the treatment you need.

Shivster

Sorry to hear of your probs HM. My bazooka was the lumps sort of like pin heads that were on a lymph node hence the ultrasound. Colon thing was a whopping great pre cancerous polyp. I'm well under the age for both of them so doubted it was the sort of thing the NHS would follow up on.

honeymommy

I wish you luck and good health. I would advise researching NHS screening for your condition though, as I think you may be dissapointed as their screening is nothing like the USA.

I had lymph node surgery and still the NHS won't follow up..

I hope this doesn't sound too negative. I just don't want someone else to go through the worry and dissapointment I did... Just think checking it out first may avoid that.

I am a nurse in the NHS by the way... lol

Shivster

Were you a nurse over here or was it something you retrained in when you got home?

I'd have thought regular screening works out cheaper overall. I hope you get the follow up care you need.

honeymommy

I have been a nurse for over 20 yrs, UK trained. I did get a US license when I was there also.

Comparing the cost of regular screening V not screening and treating those who need later.... Many thousands could end up being screened at a huge cost they deem unnecessary... Treating those who actually have a problem will mean many less people... Some will even be terminal by the time a diagnosis is made, with only a short time to live and have minimal or no costly treatment. It's all down to statistics and risk factors.

In the US it's private healthcare... They get paid..... They don't want to get sued... lol Sad but true

Shivster

True enough! I had my colonoscopy because I had symptoms otherwise that wouldn't have been done til I was 50. Mammogram was done as my mum had breast cancer and it was picked up from that first mammogram. As it wasn't a lumpy thing it would have been left for years at home. Even with insurance the co-pays are killing me.

That said, I'm a huge NHS fan. I was thinking vaguely about nurse training when I move back but I'm 40 so prob to old to do all that study now.

honeymommy

I would advise against.. lol

boxerdog03

So would I. I am a nurse in the NHS and it's terrible, your just a gloryfied admin person. If I was staying in the UK I'd be looking for a career change

username 34

As we found out - expensively to our pockets - when you emigrate and sign the old tax forms saying "non-resident" you therefore stop paying for the NHS, unless you buy the yearly stamps.

so - when you return and if you need treatment, and you give your name at reception, a lovely little number pops up next to your name saying you're not eligible for free NHS care as you're not a tax payer or stamp buyer.

me - 5 days in hospital, boy 1, 4 days in hospital, boy 2, broken leg ....... that'll be just under 2,500k thanks very much!!

lucky we have company insurance back here and I just submitted the receipts for repayment

Shivster

But it looks so cool on ER and Holby

Jessie James

Can I ask what tax forms you mean? I remember completing a UK form to get a tax rebate for that tax year when we moved here but don't remember anything about becoming a non-resident although the form was linked to leaving the UK.....wish I could remember!

username 34

when we got our P45's and all that we had to sign off, as well as child benefit and also the tax forms for our house we still own but rent out (non-resident means we are tax exempt on rental income).

what we do now is buy the yearly NI stamp - means we can get the NHS treatment free as we used to incase something happens like last year when son broke his leg!

JAJ

Paying National Insurance is not a basis for being eligible to use the NHS.

username 34

bloody hell - is it not? hubby just got back from the UK and was advised to do that as buying the stamps does the NHS .... has he been told wrong?

Shivster

National Insurance is nothing to do with the NHS. The NHS is soley funded by tax contributions. It's residence based not citizenship based.