NHS for visitors

[XJ75]

My in-laws are over from China, they originally planned to stay for 6 months but have been stuck here because of covid flight restrictions.

They were eligible for a free covid vaccine in the UK, but we had to register them with our GP and as they were staying for over 3 months, they had to be registered as a proper patient rather than a temporary patient.

Since then they have been sent a myriad of screening invitations based on their age (bowel cancer screening, breast cancer screening, flu jabs etc). The problem is I don't think they are eligible for this stuff for free. We called the number regarding the breast screening but some admin woman just said "Oh it's the NHS it's all free", she didn't seem to understand the concerns.

I don't want to send them for all this screening and then be presented with a massive bill after someone realises that they aren't eligible.

Does anyone know the official eligibility criteria? I've done a bit of Googling but most of what I've read is quite ambiguous.

Thanks.

[pavarotti1980]

Here is a start for you

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migra...

It is worth using the GP as a source of information in this instance. Certainly don't want them to access services and treatments and then find out down the line they are not eligible and they are asked to pay up.

GP surgery will have contacts in the CCG who will know the answers or be able to go and find them quite easily. I think this will be quite common as a result of travel restrictions due to COVID legislation.

[Riley Blue]

I've just this minute read that hospital trusts in London wrote off £54 million in overseas debt last year so I'd expect (or hope for) a clamp down as a result.

[Collectingbrass]

Riley Blue said:

I've just this minute read that hospital trusts in London wrote off £54 million in overseas debt last year so I'd expect (or hope for) a clamp down as a result.

In context, the London trust I work in provides clinical services worth over £2 billion pa alone, so let's keep things in perspective (which the press release does not). I suspect that although this write off is a large number it actually constitutes a miniscule amount in the overall, and there are far more easy pickings to reduce unnecessary expenditure - missed appointments in primary care cost £216m in 2019 for example.

Apologies for the thread diversion. Anyway, to the OP, your GP should know.

[jdw100]

My mum worked in a doctor’s surgery for years.

You’d be amazed of the number of people from outside the UK registering as visitors/ etc.

Where she was, they would get a lot of women staying with family in UK 2/3 months before a birth.

She had a few Americans doing this, amongst other nationalities.

Thais with HIV was also fairly common. Not every day of course, but enough to take notice.

This was a fairly nice area of Surrey.

[anonymous-user]

My Aussie sister in law twice required the use of 'our' NHS whilst visiting, once for herself and once for her daughter who is a chronic asthmatic. She couldn't believe that it was so easy and free to receive treatment.

I don't know how much money goes into treating people from outside the UK but I imagine the cost is relatively minor compared to say the vast numbers of UK based people especially the elderly who rely on it. There is a principle at stake too, it's about not standing by and letting people suffer just because they don't happen to be UK citizens, which I think is very laudable.

[XJ75]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I personally think the situation is ridiculous, surely stuff like this is easy to clamp down on.

I will double check with the GP but I don't think we will be using the screening services that keep being sent to us.

I was even a bit uncomfortable about them getting a covid vaccine but the guidance on that was clear; anyone in the UK, regardless of status, is eligible.

[AlfaPapa]

If your In Laws have paid their "Immigration Health Surcharge" (if they've applied for a visa to stay in the UK over 6 months) then they are eligible for NHS care in the same way as someone who is considered an ordinary resident. If they have paid this, and registered with a GP that information will be on the NHS Spine with their individual status. That means they won't be flagged as needing to pay for treatment.





Pasted from: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migra...

Immigration health surcharge

Since 6 April 2015, non-EEA nationals have had to pay the immigration health surcharge when applying for a visa to stay in the UK for over 6 months, unless they are exempt from paying the surcharge.

From 1 January 2021, the immigration health surcharge will also need to be paid by EEA and Swiss nationals coming to the UK for stays of more than 6 months.

People who have paid the surcharge (or who are exempt from having to pay it or have had the requirement waived) can use the NHS in a similar same way to an ordinarily resident person while their visa remains valid. They will still need to pay for certain NHS services, including prescriptions, dental treatment and assisted conception services.

The surcharge is £470 per year for students and those on Youth Mobility Scheme visas and £624 per year for all other visa and immigration applications. The same amount must be paid for any dependants.

Some people are exempt from paying the surcharge, including people who:

are seeking asylum or applying for humanitarian protection (or their dependants)
are identified as a victim of human trafficking (or their dependants)
are applying for indefinite leave to remain
the Home Office’s domestic violence concession applies to (or their dependants)
would be having their rights violated under Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights by being made to leave the UK (or their dependants)

People who have a visitor visa and those with a visa for under 6 months need to pay for any healthcare at the point of use unless they are exempt.

See the Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application page for a full list of exemptions and further information.