Overseas Visitors

Hospital Treatment for Overseas Visitors

NEW RULES APPLY FROM 1^ST JANUARY 2021

The UK has left the EU, and the transition period after Brexit comes to an end on 31^st December 2020.  After this time, new rules will apply regarding who is eligible to access NHS care and treatments without charge.  The Trust will update its policies and procedures as soon as national guidance is available.  Until this time you can find information about the new charging regime here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-charges-for-nhs-hospital-care-will-apply-to-overseas-visitors-from-1-january-2021/how-charges-for-nhs-hospital-care-will-apply-to-overseas-visitors-from-1-january-2021

Treatment Charges                                                                                      

The Department of Health and Social Care Overseas Visitor Charging Regulation require all Trusts in England to identify and charge overseas visitors for the treatment they receive.  NHS Hospital treatment is not free for everyone. If the UK is not your permanent home and you require treatment in our hospital, you may be identified as an overseas visitor and charged for your treatment.

Who is an Overseas Patient?

An overseas patient is someone who does not ordinarily reside nor permanently live in the UK. If you are visiting the UK, or have been living outside the UK for more than 12 months, you may have to pay for treatment you receive whilst there. This is regardless of whether you are a British citizen, own a property in the UK, have a UK driving licence or if you have previously lived or worked in the UK in the past. Nationals of countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) must also have 'indefinite leave to remain' in the UK in order to be "ordinarily resident" here. For a detailed definition about what ordinarily resident means, see the Department of Health Overseas Charging Regulations.

We understand that visiting a hospital in a different country may be very stressful so we aim to make it as easy as possible when it comes to understanding what the overseas team may need to establish eligibility for free NHS treatment. 

To be given free treatment at our hospital, you must provide documentation on arrival to evidence that:-

1. You are legally resident in the UK
2. Live in the UK on a lawful and properly settled basis for the time being
3. You have other documentation that entitles you to receive free NHS healthcare

In an Emergency:-

We will always provide treatment that a clinician has assessed as immediately necessary or urgent. All maternity treatment is regarded as necessary. This does not make the treatment automatically free and you may still be charged.

What NHS Services and Treatments are Free:-

1. Treatment at the Emergency Department (A & E). If you attend the A and E Department, and are in receipt of a non UK EHIC, provisional replacement certificate or an S1 Certificate, please bring these with you and hand in to reception. If you don't have an EHIC card you can apply for one from the country where you normally live through ehic.europa.eu and selecting your national flag.
2. Treatment is free ONLY up to the point of admission as an inpatient, or given an outpatient appointment. It does not therefore include emergency treatment given after admission to the hospital as an in or out patient. Treatment at this point becomes chargeable to those non-exempt visitors.
3. Family-planning services (this does not include maternity treatment and termination of pregnancy)
4. Diagnosis and treatment of certain infectious diseases. (Overseas Charging Regulations)

How Can I Obtain More Information?

We are currently updating information on this page but in the meantime please contact the Overseas Team for further information. The team are available Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm except Bank Holidays.

Tel: 01722 336262  Extn. 2420  / Direct Line: 01722 349724 / Email: sft.overseaspatients@nhs.net