If we have to return to the UK

krisskross

At present my husband and i live in Spain...we have been there a couple of years and have a house there.
He has a lot of health problems....heart, diabetes, but the overiding problem at the moment is a mega relapse of rheumatoid arthritis.We had almost forgotten he suffered with this as it as caused no real problems since diagnosis 16 years ago.
He is now pretty well immobile despite private extremely expensive treatment. We are registered in the Spanish Health Service but there is a very long wait for rheumatology services.
We are both in receipt of SRP and my question is should we need to return to England can we access medical services?
We still pay income tax in the UK and have retained UK bank accounts.
Any advice from you very knowledgable folks would be very welcome.
thanks
Chris

DLTBGYD_2

These might help
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/penret/pr_visit_or_living_abroad.asp

https://www.direct.gov.uk/BritonsLivingAbroad/ReturningToTheUk/ReturningToTheUkArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4000140&chk=tG5YGt

viktory

Morning Krisskross

Long time no speak! Going to call you later today. AFAIAC you would be welcomed back to the UK with open arms, hugs and kisses (although perhaps not from the Government!)

I see no reason why you shouldn't be entitled to all the help and assistance going. You have paid your way all your life and still pay taxes.


Speak to you soon.

Love,

Vicky xxxxxx :j

margaretclare

Hi viktory

Am amazed at the relapse in rheumatoid arthritis - I was told by my husband's stepdaughter, a highly-qualified nurse, that a warmer climate like Spain is actually beneficial?

They had considered moving to Spain at one stage because she also has a type of arthritis and her husband has MS - a warm climate supposed to be helpful?

Margaret Clare

krisskross

Morning folks
i also am amazed at the relapse.......but as it is an auto immune disease perhaps I shouldn't be. However tratment in spain for this ailment is not so easily obtained, the consultant we saw says it is an "ethnic" type illness and pretty well unknown in Meditteranean countries.
But I have read horror stories of Brits who have lived abroad for a while being classed as immigrants with no entitlements if they have to come back.......perhaps i should just abandon the sickly half of our partnership at Stanstead airport :-)

LondonDiva

The eligability criteria for accessing the NHS is very specific. You must be 'Ordinarily resident' (as in intending to live here for at least 6 months) to be able to access treatment. If you have moved abroad, whether you pay any income tax or not, you do not live here & importantly are not paying NI currently. We have a lot of issues with peole who payed NI for 40 years, moved abroad, needed a hip replacement or cancer treatment & then were upset because they were not entitled to be seen or to access anything other than emergency services...

If on your return you can prove that you intend to move back to Britain (if only to access medical services) for 6 months, you should have no problems. A lot of it will depend on your relationship with your GP as they tend to be the gateway to most services in the NHS. If you are white & vaguely respectable looking, there normally isn't a problem. It's normally people of other ethnicities who have an uncontestable right to treatment that get sent round the houses and have to prove themselves.

If you run into any issues, have your GP contact the PALS at their PCT.

It may also be useful for you to google or go on the doh website~ https://www.dh.gov.uk and have a look at the eligibility for treatment pages.

HTH

Diva:)

krisskross

Thank you Diva.
We have now registered with a GP and my husband's treatment will be reviewed/altered. Hopefully we will not encounter any problems.
We are both over pensionable age so would not pay NI even if we were working. For all purposes official i think we will be permanently returning to the UK.I have a feeling the rules changed after we left as I am sure bearing in mind my husbands ailments that we would have thought very carefully about the risks of denying ourselves what we have paid for over the years. Also for the life of me I cannot see what difference it makes where in the EU we obtain treatment......if we are entitled in one member country then we should be in another. after all the treatment is only required once.
Chris

LondonDiva

krisskross wrote:

Thank you Diva.
We have now registered with a GP and my husband's treatment will be reviewed/altered. Hopefully we will not encounter any problems.
We are both over pensionable age so would not pay NI even if we were working. For all purposes official i think we will be permanently returning to the UK.

that solves all the problems! I hope that he feels better soon:T~ you know the chips are better here anyway

krisskross wrote:

I have a feeling the rules changed after we left as I am sure bearing in mind my husbands ailments that we would have thought very carefully about the risks of denying ourselves what we have paid for over the years.

You only pay for / access NHS services while you are resident in this country ~ It doesn't work like a savings system where you can build up a share on the basis that you've paid in for 17 odd years. Otherwise the system would buckle under the strain of those emigrating abroad and then popping back to blighty to access services they have not contributed to, then heading back off to sea, sun & lower taxes (no digs intended, just a general point)

krisskross wrote:

Also for the life of me I cannot see what difference it makes where in the EU we obtain treatment......if we are entitled in one member country then we should be in another. after all the treatment is only required once.

You would be entitled to treatment on the same basis as citizens of that country. For example ~ If in France you have to buy insurance & pay some form of NI, on moving to that country you would have to do the same as the natives to get treatment on the same basis.

Diva