Should have paid attention - NHS

I just posted our experience this summer on another thread as it was quite different from previous years. I registered us - me and DS - with our local GP as soon as we got home. I'm pregnant and he has issues with his ears, and we've been here for more than two months, so we needed to be registered somewhere and have medical care. Last few times I've been here it's been a real battle trying to get the office staff to understand we're resident abroad and are therefore treated as private patients and have to pay. Usually the office manager just gives up and tells us not to worry about it. This year, as soon as I'd dropped off the registration forms (explaining we'd need to pay) the office manager called and told me, in a snotty voice and in no uncertain terms, we'd have to pay for our treatment. I was somewhat miffed by her attitude, given that I'd already explained that when I handed the forms in! Anyway, I then had to see the doctor and go for some monitoring at the midwife-led maternity unit at the hospital. When I got there, they'd already printed out the 'overseas visitor' forms for me, including a form asking for payment details. They did give me a booklet explaining the rules to see if I'd be eligible for free care, but I knew I wasn't anyway. The week after, I had to see the consultant and again, when I got there, the midwife asked if I'd filled out the form and arranged payment. It seems - for my local authority, anyway - they're getting hot on non-residents using NHS services. I'm absolutely fine about paying for our treatment as we've lived abroad, and therefore not contributed to the UK in any way, for more than ten years but it's just annoyed me that the staff have treated me as if I've been trying to claim something I'm not entitled to when that's far from the truth. And what really gets me is every time I've seen the midwife or doctor at the local GP since I registered, the reception staff haven't a bl00dy clue what to do with my cash! Re insurance, our policy only covers emergency and not routine care so we can't claim back. And one last thing - according to my surgery you have to be registered temporarily regardless of whether they see you as an NHS or private patient.

its up to the gp whether they put you on their list, they after all get paid for the names on the list, and if you are not living here full time then you are not going to cost them much usually. some gp's are happy to put you on the list even explaining that you live abroad, some will not, they are within their rights to charge you each time etc. if you have international insurance i would try and look into that as you then have the choice in case something happens. in an emergency you are always covered to go to a&e etc.

they've actually recently redefined, or clarified the criteria for being ordinarily resident in the UK (where you qualify for the NHS et al), so if your visits follow a clear pattern, you have a house that you stay in in the UK (which needn't actually be yours), have family there and you spend a fair amount of time in the UK, then you *could* qualify as ordinarily resident (which actually sucks because by doing so, they're trying to get expat incomes taxed). The new guidelines state that a person can be "ordinarily resident" in more than one country, which I'd think was stretching physical possibility, but hey. I'm counted as ordinarily resident in the UK, btw. Anyhow, if you're staying at your mum's, say, go to the nearest GP and register. Answer their questions truthfully and they will make the call - either to register you or to charge you when you have an apt.