People living abroad but still using our NHS

My ex SIL came over from Australia and had to have treatment at a hospital close to where she lived over 30 years ago, she gave her name, they called up her old address and details on their computer system, she was treated and she went on her merry way.

I told her she was a disgrace and she should have told them that she no longer lived in the U.K. , but she just shrugged.

I suppose there is no way of telling the Hospital that people who move abroad should be taken off of their system.

HousePlantQueen

^I know of a midwife who worked in a Manchester hospital who left her job in the end because of the never ending trail of pregnant women who flew in just to have their babies for free^

Highly unlikely as airlines will not allow pregnant women beyond a certain stage of their pregnancy to fly. Also, how did this mythical midwife know the women were from overseas? Was is because they didn't speak fluent English or god forbid had brown skin? Sorry to go off at a slight tangent, but it really annoys me when a chinese whisper is repeated as gospel.

Eerrrmmm ?....probably because the midwife couldn't see any antenatal care on the records???

I only see a UK doctor if it is an emergency, bronchitis/asthma and I do offer to pay as I am covered by my French Sécu and private insurance, it has always been refused. However, I have paid for the prescriptions and have been refunded back in France.
For tax reasons my time is limited in the UK.
If these people are traveling to the UK surely it must mean they are not paying their French taxes either.
Cancer treatment, from what I have heard is excellent here, as are the waiting times for other treatments. Well it seems so considering what is posted on GS regarding queues.

Agreed MOnica, or possible someone peddling the myth that if it wasn't for a handful of non eligible non Eu people having treatment here/boatloads of desperate refugees, then all would be well with the NHS. The truth of course, is very different.

My daughter and I met lots and lots of people who came over for their cancer treatment.
I've no idea of the rules, or the whys and wherefores.

Exactly MOnica. I suspect some of these stories relate to second home owners who used to spend more than 180 days in Europe, without officially changing tax residence.
This is obviously impossible since Brexit as you now either have a permanent residence card in your European country or get your passport stamped when you go in or out.

Most British pensioners abroad have spent their lives paying into the NHS through the years that they are least likely to use it and many continue to pay UK income tax after they retire abroad, seems quite fair for them to come back to the UK for some treatment.

In fact I think this is all an urban myth based on one or two cases.

Any one retiring anywhere in Europe where the medical system is so much better, there are many more hospital beds and specialists are so much more accessible would be mad to come back to the crumbling dirty NHS with such long waits to see specialists that many people pay to go privately.

For the last 30 years we have been domiciled in the uk where we spend 9-10 months a year and spend 2-3 months at our home in France. In that time we have made 300plus round trips by ferry to France, where we have often chatted to other passengers, in the winter, mainly second home or permanent French residents and we have yet to meet anyone who would come back to the UK for medical attention, when the system in their country of retirement is so much better.

I am not saying it doesn't happen, but the idea that every ferry and plane from Europe is packed with eldely retirees looking for secondrate medical treatment in the UK is ridiculous.

So how can a person register at a UK address, be on the electoral roll/have utility bills in their name if they live outside the EU (that's what the poster means, if anyone is in doubt). Turning up at A&E as an emergency is one thing, but getting a GP appointment, seeing a specialist, having surgery? Nah.

Someone else asked about France ruthiek.

Mamie & Grandtante have explained perfectly the situation with our health care. We pay tax in UK and France.

ps - Mamie - I've heard about that too (UK address.)

ruthiek You said you had been spending time in Europe so the rules would be the same as those in France. We have kept our existing established rights under the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

ruthie - OK yes I see there are many other countries this applies to
When watching Saving lives at Sea - about rescuing a boatload of poorly immigrants - I couldn't help a mean thought entering my mind - they' will all get a medical chckup and I can't get attention from my GP for my painful condition.

If people are registering at a UK address that is not their permanent (more than 180 days a year) place of residence then they are breaking the law and are not entitled to treatment.
If they are state pensioners and part of the S1 reciprocal arrangements then they are entitled to NHS treatment because the UK is designated their "competent state".
It isn't complicated.

When I worked as a GP in an out of hours surgery , people from abroad were charged for a consultation and if they needed in patient care, depending where they lived and whether it was a country with a reciprocal arrangement.

Are you sure these people are not paying some Income tax and social security in the UK?

I am asking, because my parents moved to Denmark (my mother's country of birth) when my father retired. Both paid Income tax on their British pensions, and Income tax in Denmark - they were thus entitled to part of their medical expenses in Denmark being covered by the Danish Health Service and part by the British, when as they usually were they were treated here in Denmark.

If they are not paying any taxes in the UK I agree this is a fiddle that should be stopped, but they may be being taxed in two countries.

I am not talking about France

During the 44 years we lived outside the UK, this never even crossed our minds! How despicable of them to travel here and receive free NHS treatment. We paid €25.00 each time we went to the GP and then up to €50.-- each consultation with a specialist, a very small amount of which was reimbursed. We did however have special insurance again the phenomenal cost of hospitalisation, but this was because of where we lived, and how we accepted the situation.

I know of a midwife who worked in a Manchester hospital who left her job in the end because of the never ending trail of pregnant women who flew in just to have their babies for free

Highly unlikely as airlines will not allow pregnant women beyond a certain stage of their pregnancy to fly. Also, how did this mythical midwife know the women were from overseas? Was is because they didn't speak fluent English or god forbid had brown skin? Sorry to go off at a slight tangent, but it really annoys me when a chinese whisper is repeated as gospel.

We are a National Health Service not an International Health Service so it is definitely wrong for people to come here from abroad and receive free treatment. I remember Farage saying as much some years ago and everyone tut tutting that he could be so heartless! What nonsense, and now we are reaping the rewards of being such a soft touch. UK citizens are unable to access treatments they are entitled to.

I have lived in France for 16 years and never met anyone who has gone back to the UK for treatment. Why on earth would we? I can get a doctors appointment the next day (2 or 3 for our GP), excellent medical treatment and far, far shorter waiting lists than the UK.
However, the UK pays France a sum of money for my treatment through the reciprocal S1 arrangement and if I need health care in the UK I am fully entitled to it. This is because I worked full time for 30 years and have a state pension. I pay tax on my state pension in France and on my occupational pension in the UK.
This is perhaps why you hear stories of state pensioners who have treatment in the UK. It is their right.

People from all over the world take advantage of our free NHS. They’ve been doing it for years. Unless stringent measures are put in place, it will carry on. I won’t hold my breath…..

I know of a midwife who worked in a Manchester hospital who left her job in the end because of the never ending trail of pregnant women who flew in just to have their babies for free….

ruthiek I don't think you've got your facts correct but wait to hear the viewa of Grans currently living in France.
We lived there for 18 years but only after retirement age. Even then we had to contribute to a private topup insurance of 30% in order to get full repayment. We had a few big bills to pay.
After Brexit I think those below retirement had to contribute to a new french health insurance scheme.
There's still the question of coming back to UK for operatons etc - how can it be done?
something like the problem with other immigrants.

It's a trivial cost when set against all the general waste, especially money spent on so-called managers rather than medical and paramedical staff and equipment. And one has to remember that British ex-pats did pay their taxes before going abroad. In France the medical care is better than here so it's probably the case that they would be better off there: it may be a language thing.

I suppose if they are retires they have at least paid into the system. What about the ones that come in from the Middle East, Africa and beyond and abuse the NHS? I live in Cyprus and our medical facilities are excellent. My friends husband had a phone call to ask him if he’d like his knee replacement operation next week! I’ll certainly not be flying back to use the NHS.

So do I! I don’t know if it still happens but other nationals also flew here for treatment when they could get away with it. It’s wrong and unaffordable . Waiting lists for people who live here are so long now . Treatments available at local surgeries are also no longer available. For example I now pay privately for podiatry and ear syringing appointments which were freely available to me before. Also now have to have Diabetic retinopathy yearly check at another facility ( changes every year) instead of local GP.

Sorry I know this is off on a tangent but as you can’t drive after retinopathy test it causes a lot of inconvenience each time arranging transport etc.