mrcusa

and you are not going to hop on a plane bleeding to death!

However, if you need treatment and you decide to travel to the UK because you cannot afford the treatment here, you will not be referred to a specialist on the NHS.

You will have to bear the cost, which will of course be a fraction of what it is here, but nonetheless, you will have to pay.

Further, a big issue arises with prescription drugs, where the cost could well bankrupt you here if you need them month after month, year after year. You can't fly over to the UK to get them free on the NHS either.

and, quite frankly, why should you be able to?

cabritpop

I remember a little while back reading on the BBC about creating an NHS id card for patients to present for treatment or incorporating it into national ID cards as a measure to stop health tourism etc. I think they surveyed some NHS staff and found that the majority had no interest in enforcing such an idea or asking people for a card all the time that they just wanted to do their job. I've been to doctors offices here were there are more clerical staff than doctors like a ratio of 3:1

Maz

Matt, I'm sorry, I wish I could offer some words of wisdom but I don't have any. I hope your fiancee can get this done in England. I hate not having a national healthcare system. There is always Medicaid, but you pretty much have to have zero income or be on welfare to get it.

fatbrit

Birthright?

Silverdragon102

I have experienced this a bit working in the NHS and as a practice nurse. I have seen someone come into the country just to have her baby and then expect to be treated as a UK citizen because her child was born in the UK. As far as she was concerned that gave her the right for treatment and not pay.

I know we ask for NI number and if any doubts we ask to see passport and take a photocopy of their visa stamp.

The main headache is people think it is their right to have treatment whether a citizen or not and pretend they can pay but when it comes down to the crunch once the work has been done refuse to pay or say they haven't got the funds to pay.

anotherlimey

Well why not? It would depend on what's wrong with you, but there's nothing to stop someone here going back to the UK, living with a relative and getting NHS treatment.

There's a lot of rich Arabs who aren't UK citizens or residents but they own property in London and they get free healthcare on the NHS probably because they can give a UK address.

-tom

emmals

healthcare is a joke at the moment in the uk.....my 15 month old daughter was ill a couple of months ago and I rung the doctors up....and they told me the doctor could see her 10 days later ....Joke

Manc

I'm not argueing with you over whether or not you should be able to.


but the practicalities of enforcing it are slim to none
However. Ontario has the OHIP card which works very well.

mrcusa

Well you used to be able to just walk into a Post Office and get a Form E111.

Not any longer.

You now get the European style card which is required by all other European Countries.

In 2007, the UK falls in line with the rest of Europe and everyone gets the new style healthcard. My daughter lives in Germany and has had one for years.

Next year computer systems at doctors surgeries are being updated so that these cards can be used at your local GP's.

You think they will stop short and decide not to use them at hospitals? Dream on!

Manc

no different in the USA though, and they'll charge 3 times the amount.

Melissa needs to call 3 months in advance to get to see her Rheumatologist.

Manc

not to get NHS treatment you didn't.

TouristTrap

One quick quessies for y'all. If you're resident in another EU country, can you get Brit healthcare and vice versa, free of charge? Just curious.

Manc

dunno. ask in the Europe forum.

mrcusa

Not seriously I hope.

Why don't you change your GP then?

There are at least 48 million Americans who would think that the UK healthcare system is fantastic.

It takes about 4 weeks to get an appointment here in Florida where I am, and if you call with an emergency they tell you to go to the ER.

cabritpop

found a couple of links on the beeb

Medical smart card plan outlined

one in ten healthcare tourists