Stoma supplies in Spain

Geoffh1967

Hi, I have been offered a job in Spain which would allow my wife to join me. She has a permanent Stoma and receives her products free in the UK. We have found similar products in Spain but not sure if she is entitled to and help from the NHS while in Spain. She doesn't qualify for an S1 yet and don't if the S1 will even cover supplies as I can't find any information on this subject. Any help or information would be appreciated. TIA 

elsien

The NHS is a residence based system. As your wife will be resident in Spain for the duration of your employment there, she won’t qualify for continued NHS support.

Emmia

OP have you looked into the healthcare arrangements for yourself and your wife that you either need to provide yourself, or will be offered through your employer?

Geoffh1967

Hi, I understand the NHS is resident based but under the rules of the working visa I'm not classed as a resident until I have done 5 years
I have looked into the private healthcare for my wife as mine is included under the working contract, everyone I have spoken to at the people I can at the healthcare insurance company and they aren't sure as they are used to dealing with people applying for the NLV not a working visa.
There is a grey area so you can see why I'm struggling.
NHS and Gov websites are a waste of time
Thanks anyway

marcia_

Geoffh1967 said:

Hi, I understand the NHS is resident based but under the rules of the working visa I'm not classed as a resident until I have done 5 years
I have looked into the private healthcare for my wife as mine is included under the working contract, everyone I have spoken to at the people I can at the healthcare insurance company and they aren't sure as they are used to dealing with people applying for the NLV not a working visa.
There is a grey area so you can see why I'm struggling.
NHS and Gov websites are a waste of time
Thanks anyway

 There is no grey area. You must be resident in the uk to access the NHS.
 Your lack of official residency in another country has no baring on this. 

Emmia

Geoffh1967 said:

Hi, I understand the NHS is resident based but under the rules of the working visa I'm not classed as a resident until I have done 5 years
I have looked into the private healthcare for my wife as mine is included under the working contract, everyone I have spoken to at the people I can at the healthcare insurance company and they aren't sure as they are used to dealing with people applying for the NLV not a working visa.
There is a grey area so you can see why I'm struggling.
NHS and Gov websites are a waste of time
Thanks anyway

Have you tried looking for Spanish expat forums to see what the situation is in terms of the stoma supply/support arrangements in Spain? Has your wife spent any amount of time (more than just a couple of weeks) outside the UK whilst she's had her stoma? My understanding is the NHS has excellent support for stoma users, but this isn't necessarily the case everywhere, unfortunately.

Geoffh1967

There is a grey area as nobody has information on this, my wife has a permanent stoma so all equipment free here.
People in Spain who we talk to are still getting free NHS treatment/medication even though they haven't lived here for years and they aren't yet S1 holders so there is obviously ways around the system but trying to find out how is impossible
I have tried the expat forums but there is very little information on this
She has spent a couple of months away but we take the supplies with us 
We will just buy what we need in Spain when we go or she can come back and forward for the equipment on the NHS
Thanks for your help

p00hsticks

Geoffh1967 said:

NHS and Gov websites are a waste of time

@Geoffh1967 Does you wife not currently have a contactable stoma nurse / team within the NHS ? In her shoes I'd perhaps approach them as they may well have come across the situation before ...

Alternatively some of the cancer charities such as MacMillan or bowelcancer.org.uk or their associated online community forums. There is at least one stoma community support group on Facebook where she could perhaps ask others with stomas

lookbook

Basically as you aren't in UK the NHS won't help you with stoma.

marcia_

Geoffh1967 said:

There is a grey area as nobody has information on this, my wife has a permanent stoma so all equipment free here.
People in Spain who we talk to are still getting free NHS treatment/medication even though they haven't lived here for years and they aren't yet S1 holders so there is obviously ways around the system but trying to find out how is impossible
I have tried the expat forums but there is very little information on this
She has spent a couple of months away but we take the supplies with us 
We will just buy what we need in Spain when we go or she can come back and forward for the equipment on the NHS
Thanks for your help

 They are defrauding the NHS if getting medicine and treatment in the uk and nobody here will advise you on illegal activities 

elsien

Do the people you are referring to come back to the UK on a regular basis to get their NHS supplies because if so, they probably haven’t told anyone they’re not living there anymore.