5 ms·

> "At a point wouldn't it be cheaper to hop on a flight to London , and check yourself into a hospital ?" The NHS doesn't offer free non-emergency healthcare t

> "At a point wouldn't it be cheaper to hop on a flight to London , and check yourself into a hospital ?" The NHS doesn't offer free non-emergency healthcare to non-UK residents. In general, you would have to prove that you are a legal UK resident before you'd be admitted. Obviously, in an emergency they would treat you no matter what (but potentially send you a bill afterwards).

DanBC 6y ago
You're right about hospital care, but if you need insulin you'd get it from a GP, not a hospital. Just about anyone can register for primary care. There isn't an "ordinarily resident" test for primary care. P142 of this: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/primary-medical-care-policy-and-guidance-manual-pgm/ https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/primary-medical-care-... Ordinarily resident applies to secondary care, but not including detention in a mental health hospital under the mental health act and not including A&E treatment in the A&E unit. ---begin quote--- 8.4 Who can register for free primary care services? 8.4.1 A patient does not need to be “ordinarily resident” in the country to be eligible for NHS primary medical care – this only applies to secondary (hospital) care. In effect, therefore, anybody in England may register and consult with a GP without charge. 8.4.7 It is important to note that there is no set length of time that a patient must reside in the country in order to become eligible to receive NHS primary medical care services. 8.4.8 Therefore, all asylum seekers and refugees, students, people on work visas and those who are homeless, overseas visitors, whether lawfully in the UK or not, are eligible to register with a GP practice even if those visitors are not eligible for secondary care (hospital care) services.
- offtop5 6y ago
  That's pretty awesome. Of course it's absolutely not practical, but if I ever wake up as a refugee in London I'll register with a gp Edit : I almost want to see a SNL skit with a man who decides to have a mental breakdown, but prefers to do so in London vs the US
  - DanBC 6y ago
    I forgot to put the patient facing info in my post, so I'll link it here: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-practice/ https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/gps/how-to-reg... They have leaflets with information tailored to homeless people, asylum seekers and refugees, gypsy Roma and traveller communities, and visitors from abroad.
- Scoundreller 6y ago
  > but if you need insulin you'd get it from a GP, not a hospital Gotcha, I will ask for the nearest surgery ;)
AnIdiotOnTheNet 6y ago
Given how ludicrously wild medical billing is in the US, chances are you'd still come out ahead.
renewiltord 6y ago
Amusingly, for simple stuff you'll often get away with it. I think you might actually be able to get sutures for a cut and walk away with the bill going to the Crown. Might get ropey if you had to get a specialist in. I know if you just got something in your eye and it only needs to be irrigated to dislodge the debris you'll probably not be billed.

DanBC 6y ago

You're right about hospital care, but if you need insulin you'd get it from a GP, not a hospital. Just about anyone can register for primary care. There isn't an "ordinarily resident" test for primary care. P142 of this: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/primary-medical-care-policy-and-guidance-manual-pgm/ https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/primary-medical-care-... Ordinarily resident applies to secondary care, but not including detention in a mental health hospital under the mental health act and not including A&E treatment in the A&E unit. ---begin quote--- 8.4 Who can register for free primary care services? 8.4.1 A patient does not need to be “ordinarily resident” in the country to be eligible for NHS primary medical care – this only applies to secondary (hospital) care. In effect, therefore, anybody in England may register and consult with a GP without charge. 8.4.7 It is important to note that there is no set length of time that a patient must reside in the country in order to become eligible to receive NHS primary medical care services. 8.4.8 Therefore, all asylum seekers and refugees, students, people on work visas and those who are homeless, overseas visitors, whether lawfully in the UK or not, are eligible to register with a GP practice even if those visitors are not eligible for secondary care (hospital care) services.

offtop5 6y ago
That's pretty awesome. Of course it's absolutely not practical, but if I ever wake up as a refugee in London I'll register with a gp Edit : I almost want to see a SNL skit with a man who decides to have a mental breakdown, but prefers to do so in London vs the US
- DanBC 6y ago
  I forgot to put the patient facing info in my post, so I'll link it here: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-practice/ https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/gps/how-to-reg... They have leaflets with information tailored to homeless people, asylum seekers and refugees, gypsy Roma and traveller communities, and visitors from abroad.
Scoundreller 6y ago
> but if you need insulin you'd get it from a GP, not a hospital Gotcha, I will ask for the nearest surgery ;)

AnIdiotOnTheNet 6y ago

Given how ludicrously wild medical billing is in the US, chances are you'd still come out ahead.

renewiltord 6y ago

Amusingly, for simple stuff you'll often get away with it. I think you might actually be able to get sutures for a cut and walk away with the bill going to the Crown. Might get ropey if you had to get a specialist in. I know if you just got something in your eye and it only needs to be irrigated to dislodge the debris you'll probably not be billed.