Overseas Visitors
The GPs have a duty to provide free of charge treatment which they consider to be immediately necessary or emergency treatment, to any person within their practice area, regardless of whether that patient is an overseas visitor or registered with the practice. Prescription charges are applicable under the usual NHS rules.
The definition of Immediately Necessary remains as a matter of GP discretion and judgement but it is considered to include treatment not only of new conditions but also pre-existing conditions that have become exacerbated during the period of a person's stay in the UK.
Overseas visitors requiring non emergency or non immediately necessary treatment will be accepted as a private patient. A private consultation fee and prescription fee will be chargeable.
It may not be obvious whether treatment is immediately required. An appointment for an overseas visitor to see a doctor will be made on the understanding that a charge will be payable if the doctor considers the treatment not to be immediately required.
Patients from overseas who are referred by a GP to an NHS Secondary care provider are liable to be charged for hospital treatment irrespective of whether the overseas visitor has been given treatment on free of charge or private fee paying basis by the GP.
It is not the duty of the GP to establish a patient's entitlement for free NHS secondary care treatment but is the responsibility of the NHS secondary care provider to determine whether the patient should be charged for the hospital treatment.
To check eligibility for free treatment, patients may telephone The Great Western Hospital, Tel 01793-604020 or view their website: www.swindon-marlborough.nhs.uk/pals/overseasvisitors.htm.
Registration as a regular patient of the practice
Registration as a regular patient of the practice may be offered to those who are ordinarily resident in the UK for a “settled purpose” and whose remaining period of stay is expected to exceed 6 months.