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NHS enquiry

anneofgg profile image
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Greetings, Next month I am coming to England for a year from New Zealand. I am wondering how do we get an NHS number or whatever you need there to see a doctor? I am 61 and my husband is 74. Hope you can help.

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anneofgg
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Treepie profile image
Treepie

Google " Reciprocal Healthcare arrangements for visitors to the United Kingdom"

Depending on the purpose of your visit you may be eligible for NHS treatment that is free at the point of access, i.e. when you visit a General Practitioner or a NHS hospital. And, in that case, you'll need to visit a GP surgery close to where you are living in order to show your eligibility in some way and to register. You should do that shortly after moving here to prevent difficulties in the event of any medical emergency, and you can just call in during opening hours to see the admin staff. Registering will start the process of getting you an NHS number, which should then eventually reach you by post.

If you are not eligible, you can just visit any GP surgery which accepts private patients, and pay for your treatment as and when you need it.

That's for routine treatment. In the event of a serious emergency, all hospital treatment is cost-free for everyone, but if not eligible for NHS services, again, you'd have to pay for planned surgery.

Hope this helps and that you have a great year in UK.

in reply to

NHS (charges to overseas visitors) Regulations 2015. Care in the A&E department or equivalent is free of charge to everyone, but once a person is admitted or returns as an outpatient, charges would apply to any person that is not usually resident in the UK, unless an exemption applies. It is not the emergency nature of the care that makes it free if charge, the location on the hospital does.

I.e. person falls down stairs and fractures spine, emergency reason for accessing the NHS, but admitted for care and so chargeable.

In the case of NZ, reciprocal health agreement applies, and I think this one required the individual to prove they are usually resident in NZ.

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