Great post oldun and I too agree with all you have said, I know that there are many in the uk who get treatment without any question and they are from outside the eu, I'm not sure that if someone returned to the uk for treatment who had been out of the country for a few years that they would have anyway of knowing where you've been? just my own thoughts but I have found an article which really says it all
Who is entitled to free NHS treatment?NHS treatment that is always free
In the UK, medical treatment for emergencies is always free. Certain other parts of medical care in Britain are always free to everyone. Treatment from certain NHS walk-in centres (which offer fast and convenient medical advice and care, and are located at various places around the country) is free when they are treating an emergency. Treatment for certain infectious diseases is also free, but this does not include HIV and AIDS, for which only diagnosis and connected counselling sessions are free for everyone. Family planning services and compulsory psychiatric treatment are universally free.
Free NHS treatment from a GP
People who are ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK are entitled to register with (and be seen by) a GP for free. An ‘ordinary resident’ is usually considered to be someone who has legally been in the UK (or is planning to be in UK) for six months or more, and can prove that they are here for a settled purpose – for instance, they may be studying or working in the UK.
The rules around who GPs should treat for free are fairly flexible. A GP can choose to register overseas visitors as temporary residents, or, if they are in the UK for longer than three months, accept them onto their lists. Technically this could apply to failed asylum seekers or immigrants, although this is left down to the decision of the individual GP. If a GP decides not to register an overseas visitor or treat them as a temporary resident, they can still treat that individual on a private basis, but this means that they will be charged.
Nationals of countries that are part of the European Economic Area (EEA), and who are carrying a European Health Insurance Card, are entitled to the same level of GP care that UK residents get, for conditions that arise during their stay. This includes on-going medical treatment, such as blood tests or injections.
In addition, asylum seekers or refugees who have been given leave to remain in the UK, or are awaiting results of an application to remain in the country, are eligible for free GP treatment.
Free NHS treatment at hospitals
Even if you’re entitled to free GP treatment in the UK, medical treatment from hospitals will not necessarily be free, unless your condition is considered to be an emergency. You can receive NHS hospital treatment for free if:
* You’ve been living legally in the UK for at least 12 months (temporary absences of up to 3 months are ignored).
* You’ve come to work in the UK, either as an employee or self-employed person. This does not include people on short business trips, and it only relates to people who are actually working, not just looking for work.
* You’ve come to permanently live in the UK, and have had an application for permanent residence approved.
* You’re studying in the UK on a course that lasts 6 months or more, or which, if it lasts less than 6 months, is substantially funded by the UK government.
* You’re a refugee or asylum seeker, or are waiting for your asylum request to be considered.
* You’re a UK state pensioner that spends up to 6 months a year living in another European Economic Area (EEA) country, but are not a resident of that country.
* You’re working in an EEA country but are paying compulsory UK national insurance contributions.
* You’ve been working abroad for no longer than 5 years, but have lived legally in the UK for ten continuous years at some point.
* You’re from an EEA country but are referred to the UK for specified treatment with an E112 or E123 form.
* You’re an unpaid worker with a voluntary organisation that offers services similar to those of a Health Authority of Local Authority social services department.
* You’re employed on a ship or vessel registered in the UK or working offshore on the UK sector of the Continental Shelf.
* You’re a member of the UK armed forces, or a UK civil servant working abroad who was recruited in the UK and employed by Her Majesty’s government.
* You were recruited in the UK but work abroad for the British Council or the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
* You receive a UK war disablement pension or war widows pension.
* You’re a diplomat, or diplomatic staff, working in embassies or Commonwealth High Commissions in the UK.
* You’re working abroad in a job financed in part by the UK Government in agreement with the Government or a public body of some other country or territory.
* You’re a prisoner, or detained by the immigration authorities, in the UK.
* You’re serving NATO personnel, posted in the UK, and are not using your own or UK armed forces hospitals.
* You’ve been referred by your home country for specified treatment in the UK under the terms of a bilateral healthcare agreement.
* You're a missionary working overseas for an organisation principally based in the UK, regardless of whether you are receiving a wage or salary.
* You have been formally identified or suspected as being a victim of human trafficking.
* You are the spouse, civil partner or dependent child of anyone who is exempt under the above criteria, if you are living permanently with the exempt person. Coming to visit the exempt person for a few weeks or months does not give exemption.
If you don’t fit into any of these categories, you will still be able to get NHS treatment for conditions that occurred after arrival in the UK only, if you fit into the following categories:
* Anyone who normally lives in another EEA member state but is visiting the UK.
* Anyone, or the spouse or child of anyone, receiving a UK state pension who has either lived legally in the UK for 10 continuous years at some point or has worked as a UK Civil Servant for at least 10 continuous years.
* Anyone, or the spouse or child of anyone, who is a national of a country that has signed the European Social Charter but is not entitled to be provided with services under a bilateral agreements (currently Turkey and areas of Cyprus not covered under the EEA arrangements) and is genuinely without the means to pay for their treatment.
* Anyone, or the spouse or child of anyone, who has lived legally in the UK for 10 continuous years at some point but who is now living in another EEA member state or in certain countries with which the UK has a bilateral healthcare agreement.
* Anyone who is entitled to receive industrial injury benefit from Israel if the treatment is in connection with the industrial injury.
* Anyone living in a country with which the UK has a bilateral healthcare agreement.
So, what happens if you don’t fit into any of the categories that we’ve listed? Well, technically, you should then be charged for any UK medical treatment that you receive. If a hospital thinks that you need to be charged for treatment, you will usually be interviewed by an administrator. They will probably ask for any evidence that you’re entitled to free NHS treatment.
If you think that you will be charged for medical treatment, but can’t afford to pay, then you should still talk to a hospital administrator as they may be able to help you. The NHS is supposed to treat its patients in confidence, so even if you’re not living in the UK legally, your details should not be passed on. You could also contact other organisations for help, such as Citizens Advice Bureau. The Citizens Advice Bureau provides free information and advice online, over the telephone, and in person at many locations around the UK. In some places they even operate from within local surgeries and hospitals.