Paying for NHS Treatment

[Joshua]

Taken from a NHS site

Proposals to Exclude Overseas Visitors from Eligibility to Free NHS Primary Medical Services 

Considerable confusion currently exists on the eligibility of

overseas visitors to general practice.  The following guidance may be

helpful;

NHS entitlement 

Entitlement to full NHS treatment does not depend upon past or

present payments of UK taxes or National Insurance contributions.  It

hinges on the concept of 'ordinary residence.'  A person may be

regarded as ordinarily resident if they are; 

"living lawfully in the United Kingdom voluntarily and for settled

purposes as part of the regular order of their life for the time being.

Whether they have an identifiable purpose for their residence here and

whether that purpose has a sufficient degree of continuity to be

properly described as 'settled'."  

The Department of Health has confirmed that this definition does not

depend upon employment status, so a pensioner from abroad who is living

legally in the UK on a settled basis would be regarded as ordinarily

resident.   

Immediately necessary or emergency treatment

Every practice or walk-in centre has an obligation to provide any

immediately necessary or emergency treatment to any patient that

presents, regardless of all other considerations.

This is defined as any essential treatment that in the clinical

judgement of a health care professional cannot be delayed or avoided.

This may include immediately necessary treatment for a pre-existing

condition that has become exacerbated while visiting the UK.

This is a longstanding professional obligation for all doctors and is also a legal requirement under all GMS and PMS contracts.

Practices are required to offer free emergency or immediately necessary treatment to anyone who:

has been refused inclusion on the practice's list of patients for up

to 14 days from the date of refusal or until registered elsewhere -

whichever is sooner

the practice has refused to accept as a

temporary resident for up to 14 days from the date of refusal or until

accepted elsewhere - whichever is sooner

is staying in an area for less than 24 hours, and in this case care should be given for a period of up to 24 hours. 

Necessary

drugs and dressings following this treatment are prescribed on an NHS

prescription and supplied in the usual way. NHS prescription charges

may be applicable in the usual way.

 Where does it say anywhere that they want their credit card !!!!!!!

Joshua[:P]

[cooperlola]

There are few MEPs I must send this to, Joshua, who clearly have no idea who's entitled to free NHS treatment, and who should pay for it!