I am a BRITISH CITIZEN (and has been tax payer throughout ). I was appalled when in one hospital counter, I was asked how long I have lived in this country(As per the receptionist, they have to ask this since I was referred by my GP!). I have put a complaint and waiting for a written confirmation about this. When was this rule introduced and any mention on web site, etc... I became more furious when she said, I may not have to answer this at the clinic again, however, if I had an appointment at another clinic of the same hospital, they will ask me the same question!. This holds good, if iam at a different town etc.. She also mentioned that even if my GP surgery has a record about my citizenship status, still the individual hospitals cannot access the information and I will still be asked the same question! Checked with some of my work colleagues and none of them had been asked this question. The complaint is ongoing. Please share if any white/non-white had this issue .
Questions asked if referred by a GP - NHS England: A Ca...
NHS England: A Call to Action
Questions asked if referred by a GP
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Hello
On regristration for hospital treatment you will as everyone else have to fill in a questionaire, this is all cases it is to do with race of the individual .
I have to say white British
Europeans say white european
So something like Black european, religion Possible Cof E
We all sign that form, there is no racial intent
Have you a medical card for NHS treatment, That could effect treatment I understand, although a GPs letter would explain if required
BOB
Thanks. However my post was not this. First of all I did not complete any form. The question was not about Race at all. Please read the post again. My reply to the message posted by Georje
This was a personal experience . I have still not received any written reply to my ongoing complaint. Hence highly appreciate if anyone can share ONLY their personal experience. I have cheked NHS website and nowhere it states that this is one of the questions to be answered at a clinic IF YOUR ARE REFERRED BY YOUR GP.
I would prefer it if you were to not shout - Capitals in word form are shouting -, I was only informing you that there is a directive in the Employment field and said it must now be taken with the NHS as well. Each and everyone of us who are using clinics at their local hospital have been requested to do so by their GP's. and yes I have completed forms requesting my nationality and where and when I was born.
At least if we all complete these form the NHS will be able to collate said information and know how many people that do not live in this country are using the system. That way they will be able to continue the debate on whether or not to charge 'holiday patients' as they are debating at the moment in Parliament, so that we may have continuation of a free NHS to British Nationals.
sorry if you felt that way. I had to use this since i was getting general replies and nothing to do with the personal experience. I do not want this to be a 2 way conversation. If you have been asked this question , please say yes and a date will be preferable. The thing is, I have not been asked to complete such form since i have been living in this country for a very very long time.. all our personal information is accessible among various NHS departments and hence asking us this question at every clinic you attend is not right. I do not want any unrelated answers to my initial posting. just to recap
1. Whether you have been asked how many years you have lived in this country recently or whenever you had visited a clinic.
2. Whether you were referred by your GP to attend that clinic (for instance radiology)
3. Have you seen or shown any document that this will be a question at the counter of every clinic you attend?
If your answer is yes to any of these, please reply. Otherwise please do not reply. I will highly appreciate your cooperation.
The problem is all your health records are not available to all the facilities you may need access . I believe a universal computer system is being trialled - but until it is in operation we are going to have to be patient & give over the information requested.
I can respect your opinion, but not agree with it. It looks you have not ben asked the 3 questions (atleast within the last 6 months) mentioned above and hence your are opting to advise and generalise the matter. Only reply if you have ben personalyy affected/asked the questions.
Yes it is rather galling that you have to prove that you were born in this country. You have to prove this even for employment and if you change jobs within the company. Apparently the law was bought in a few years ago it's part of EU initiative. They have obviously now extended it to the NHS. Hope this answers your request. xx
If we are to save the millions of pounds allegedly spent on treatment fraudulently obtained by people who have no right to NHS services they can ask me to stand on my head! Like you I have paid Contributions for many many years & now find I have to wait 3 weeks for a GP appointment & GP,s are very reluctant to refer to Consultants because of the cost to them. If ANY money can be saved those entitled to treatment will be the winners !
Thanks. I can understand all what you said. However, I need answers only to the 3 questions raised above. If you have been personally affected by any of the above questions, please reply. Others I will appreciate, please do not reply.
Totally agree with you Kathryfitz12, I and all my ancestors were born in this country so as far as I can see if anyone has any reason to complain about asking how long I have been in this country then I do. But I do not as I think there has to be change and charging for people who are on holiday here more the better. After all when I go abroad I always purchase holiday insurance to cover any illness if the need arose, therefore others should do the same when visiting here.
Thanks. Simple question, have you been asked the above questions anytime when you were at a hospital and or a particular clinic desk (especially when you had all the checks at a GP surgery and you were referred by your GP? The procedures should be clearly laid down on the NHS web site or any part of of any hospital/clinic. If not it is not legally binding and compalints will arise
If you read previous items I have written here, you will see that I have answered you. As protocol is constantly changing it would cost a huge amount in time and cost to be constantly updating all these protocols.
As the saying goes, if you have nothing to hide why worry about the question(s) asked.
Sorry, it is taken out of context here. Read my initial and subsequent requests for anyone replying to this post.and understand the issue and then jump to answering and quoting sayings. This is not the place for me to open up any more discussion since it is an ongoing complaint. It is more or like stop and search, post code lottery etc..(colour code , race codes, appearance codes, name codes getting added ...)which prevails in our NHS. It should be one for all and all for one (perhaps another saying). I do not think NHS is so poor that a line cannot be added and system updated!. I regularly go to the web site, many items do get updated for your information.
Quite Georje !!
Those in power trying to sort out who is entitled to free NHS treatment must start thinking "outside the box"!
If airline/ shipping companies added passenger Travel insurance details together with the other essential info they already collect - it would't make any extra work for anybody - as if the passenger didn,t complete that part of the form they couldn't travel here! I am regularly asked where I was born on all sorts of forms - so what? I have nothing to hide - like you I buy travel insurance when I travel & I use the E111 form in Europe. I used it recently in Italy & received excellent treatment immediately.
Hi kathyfitz I totally agree I wouldn't mind what anyone asked me I am just thankful we have the NHS
That is just it "WE"'have the NHS - warts &'all - but it's not for the rest of the world to abuse! Emergency treatment should of course be there for everyone .....but hip replacements, heart surgery & childbirth must be chargeable to the individual concerned!
,
This reply to all the above. Now I get a pretty good picture of who are responding. Good for you all. Iam a great supporter of NHS too. But speak when need be. All who are responding/want to respond, do not forget the 3 mantra questions . This reminder is for those who have not responded yet to these questions but keep responding and for any future potential respondents
1. Whether you have been asked how many years you have lived in this country recently or whenever you had visited a clinic./hospital
2. Whether you were referred by your GP to attend that clinic (for instance radiology)
3. Have you seen or shown any document that this will be a question at the counter of every clinic you attend?
By the way, NHS is not free (We pay (atleast some of us) pay for it if anyone needs a reminder.
Q1. Yes - I live in the Midlands now, & last year when I went for a scan I was asked how long I had lived permanently in the UK- probably as I don't have a Midlands accent,
2. Yes, I was referred by my GP & I had my NHS number.
3. Yes & I presume if I go to a different hospital they will ask all the same questions as the computer system is not up to date!
You are right we do pay N.I contributions ...so we have a valuable service we must ensure we keep!
Excellent. Finally one respondent answered all the questions. Good for you, happy to answer all their questions over and over again. If we pay, we have rights too. NHS is NHS (with too many care problems to be solved and sorted) and not Boarder agency.
Oh! they ask you this mundane question, if you have a different Accent too! Incredible!!
I would be appalled to be asked how long I have lived in the country - it should not be the business of someone at a counter and your privacy must also have been invaded. I would refuse to answer in the situation and ask for somewhere private where my response could be overheard. I feel similarly annoyed when asked for my date of birth, address and phone number within earshot of others. I do think we should have a right to privacy!
Thanks for your reply. I have taken up the matter further and got some written responses from various sources from NHS. However, since I am not satisfied with their replies, the case is still ongoing. I have asked for evidence for this questioning procedure . Hope I can share it that when it comes through. By the way, I do agree with the lack of data protection/security while you answer their questions at a counter.
I cannot wait until the promised centrally contained medical records for all patients has been put into action. I live in Devon, which is a huge county. I'm being treated at both Barnstaple and Exeter hospitals, one has electronic records, the other does not. This means that there is no access to my records by one hospital from the other - something which was vitally important when I was due to have surgery and therefore anaesthesia. My point is that a) we should not be answering the same questions time after time and b) the left hand will finally know what the right hand is doing!
I hope the centrally accessible record system will be of help in the future. However, if NHS is asked to share the border agency/immigration burden, then we may still be asked the questions time after time when you enter a new clinic for the first time.
By the way, to all those who have responded, if you have read my previous comments , I was told and is also in print on the NHS (under Overseas patients)and on Dept. of Health website, if you are asked the question, how long you have lived in UK (or the other format---Have you lived in the UK for the last 12 months), once at a particular clinic, then on your subsequent visit/s to the same clinic, you will not be asked this question . This was proved WRONG. I was asked the same question within a span of 3 weeks at the same clinic (same desk even) . These issues and others noticed on my visits have been communicated to the present CEO . Hope these will be considered at the New initiative called The Five year Strategy .
Do you think you will get a fair hearing as the Governmental system has been corrupted by administration on remits following Strict Protocol that is no discretion or representation even via Europe [Human Rights??!!} who do not address issues which are urgent fatal when regards health.Europe has same undemocratic system even the Court of Human Rights .
This can be seen in A&E closures then no contingency beds knowing of the crisis .We are all suffering human rights civil liberties abuse via the NHS deliberately discriminating blaming .Look what happened to those who were employed to work here from abroad via NHS & came on Windrush . Is it race or age or both? Thats why all Franchising Out & Decentralising so can be illegal ?Noone responsible as can be seen in the recent tragedies.
Ask all the women with chronic utis neglected till acute MUST Campaign & lip-lymphoedema sufferers surely another Metoo situation re: power & control
As GPs no longer take Hippocratic oaths in favour of contracts so admin in LA & Surgeries direct our funds via their admin & CCGs ignoring NHS Constitution & confidentiality .
Intelligence & reason no longer exist - surely not deliberately ?
An e -petition via USA Care2 or uk Momentum 36 degree change where you can make & promote the case to Parliament may be only way forward as have get out clauses by making complaints time specific if enough signatures .Or LBC Talkback Radio-London ?
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