UK liveaboard - address for doctor or dentist?

[GrahamM376]

Don't know about GPs, but in hospitals the question about residency is often asked. The regulations on free treatment do indeed allow it to be witheld if you are out of the country for more than 3 months. However if you are referred by a GP then the question is not asked. What can present difficulties is if you just turn up at a hospital (other than accident) without a referral.

Great. Those of us who have paid thousands in taxes and NI over the years get turned away whilst immigrants get it, as well as a free house and benefit

 

[Tranona]

'tis nothing new. The regulations came in to prevent "health tourists" - people who lived elsewhere and just came to UK for treatment. Difficult to enforce as it is up to each Trust to establish the status of individuals, and to collect fees where appropriate.

The simplest way of avoiding the issue is to keep a GP registration, but if you have been non-resident, you have only to state that you intend taking up permanent residency again. So, in practice, nobody who is a genuine resident (even if they spend significant time out of the country) is likely to experience any problems.

 

[mikewilkes]

'tis nothing new. The regulations came in to prevent "health tourists" - people who lived elsewhere and just came to UK for treatment. Difficult to enforce as it is up to each Trust to establish the status of individuals, and to collect fees where appropriate.

The simplest way of avoiding the issue is to keep a GP registration, but if you have been non-resident, you have only to state that you intend taking up permanent residency again. So, in practice, nobody who is a genuine resident (even if they spend significant time out of the country) is likely to experience any problems.

This happened to me years ago when working overseas. Brown axed the 183 days tax free so most of the overseas workers shot off on their boats - or whatever to spend their salaries abroad.

The doctor reg bit came up and mine said to me " I should send all your docs to ***** Health Board but they will probably loose them - so if you want I will hang onto them". Was a VERY large rural practice.

.

 

[Bobobolinsky]

'tis nothing new. The regulations came in to prevent "health tourists" - people who lived elsewhere and just came to UK for treatment. Difficult to enforce as it is up to each Trust to establish the status of individuals, and to collect fees where appropriate.

The simplest way of avoiding the issue is to keep a GP registration, but if you have been non-resident, you have only to state that you intend taking up permanent residency again. So, in practice, nobody who is a genuine resident (even if they spend significant time out of the country) is likely to experience any problems.

In order to really screw things up, the government makes residency conditions very difficult. When I returned to the UK it took six weeks to establish residency (Gov efficiency), and the residency department is in Wick, so you can't go there and bang on the counter. Without an address, you have no credit rating, can't get a credit card, can't change banks cos the one you are with is pants and you can't even buy health lottery tickets on line. So I don't swap banks, have no credit card and don't do the health lottery. Car, well you have to have a UK address, so they can send you tickets.

 

[GrahamM376]

Let's hope the DHSS never get access to UK Border computer or they will be able to monitor everyone's extended holidays. Fortunately? we are still UK tax payers and have a legit residence there and are on the electoral role etc. Bear in mind that GPs get paid by the number of patients on their books so no incentive to cross them off.