Ann Fink

While working in Turkey (2 years) a friend has been diagnosed with an acutely malignant form of cancer. She has lived and worked abroad for 17 years.kenya, Ghana etc Has not kept registration with an UK GP. Now accepted by a consultant in a major teaching hospital in London where she has family, but needs a GP Referral. She has worked for more than the required 10 years in the UK, has paid NHS contributions etc. and receives a UK pension. As she is in a debilitated state and requires direct transference to the hospital is there anyway she can get a GP referral egg.at the airport? On arrival? She has a London address for her pension.

scot47

Non-resident. Not eligible for NHS. That is the harsh truth. Eligibility for NHS treatment is not contribution-dependent but based on where you live. She may have to go private. Will the consultant not accept a referral from a doctor based in Turkey ?

BritInParis

Does she have the right to live in the UK? She would have to move back to the UK to became eligible for NHS treatment. She wouldn't be able to fly in for treatment and fly out again.

Mitzyboy

Yes, to the OP, unfortunately for your friend the NHS is residency based, and as your friend is not a resident in the UK they are not eligible for NHS treatment any more. If they were to move back to the UK and be able to provide a UK address and show that they were actually really returning to UK residency then they may get a chance.

Whilst living in Spain I needed a doctor on a trip back to the UK and was made to pay £30 as a private patient to the NHS doctor

She can certainly try to register with a GP, but they will need proof of living at the address you mention, such as a utility bill in his/her name as well as other identity information .... and if she isnt residing in the UK "really", then of course it would not be legal