Job Discussion Forums

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Changes are underway in entitlement to free health treatment in the UK.

From 1 April 2004 if you are non-resident you will NOT be entitled to free health treatment under the National Health Service.

The good news is that (according to an article in the Weekly Telegraph, 25 March 2004) some categoories are exempt from this ruling.

The common ones, i.e. Missionaries, Charity Workers, VSO, Crown Servants, thoise employed on contracts with UK-based companies

AND A NEW CATeGORY :

Teachers of English as a Foreign Language

So when you go for tretament during your summer holidays point out that you are in one of the exempt categories !

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Scot .... Is this your attempt at an an April Fool's day joke? Why don't you put a link to the weekly telegraph site

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

dmb,

Why di I not put a link to a cybernewspaper ?

Some of us still read old-fashioned newspapers, not images on a screen ! That is why !

If you care to check it is in the current issue of The Weekly Telegraph.(25 March 2004)

Back in December they ran a story about this which looked bleaker. At least in this interpretation we can have our ingrown toenails treated under the NHS.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I apologise Scot. Living in the Gulf has made me suspicious and cynical. I just find it hard to believe that the EFL industry should be chosen by a bunch of beaurocrats in Whitehall

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Are you sure that Teachers of English as a Foreign Language doesn't just apply to those with home based British Council contracts?

That would fit in with the government's policy of to those who have shall be given more!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

It does not clarify what a "Teacher of English as a Foreign Language" means in terms of these NHS Regulations.

I think it may NOT be British Council teachers because one of the other categories is Crown Servants, Embassy Staff etc.

What we need is clarification.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

I'll second that and add that, even if you are non-resident for tax purposes, you are paying Class 2 or 3 voluntary NI contributions you should be eligible. If not then I'm going to shoot someone as soon as I step off the plane this summer Evil or Very Mad

Irish Blood English Heart · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 11:51 am Post subject:

I dont see how they can refuse you free treatment.

I broke my wrist in London, walked into hospital and got free treatment, the NHS is brilliant. My point is though, I dont live in London, I live 400 miles away. I didnt have to show any ID or anything else, just gave my name and address (I think, to be honest cant even remember if i had to do that). So just put on your best British accent, walk into a hospital, give your address (or if youre travelling next time you see a boarded up house write down its address and use that) and hey presto you have free treatment. God bless the NHS.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Maybe it means we are eligible to join a waiting list of about 5 years

Irish Blood English Heart · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 12:05 pm Post subject:

The NHS isnt that bad, sure if youre after a hip replacement you might have to wait ages. For on the day treatment (broken arms, legs, illness etc) its first class, and trust me i have had plenty of experience of it!!!

Give me a free NHS over a N.American system anyday!

Lanza-Armonia · Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2004 12:06 pm Post subject:

I don't know why people have such problems with the NHS. I thought it was one of the best around the world. Like Irish said, FREE.

I broke my arm in a fight (professional one before you guys start!!!) and within the hour I was in hospital being looked at.

Rock on the British NHS

LA

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

You'll always get emergency treatment free, resident or non-resident.

The whole cuffuffle about charges has been because one of the Blair babes decided to bring up the issue of "health tourism", to divert attention away from gawd knows what unsavoury piece of political shennanagins in her department.

My experience of the National Health service is that it is excellent once you get into hospital, but they take so many precautions that operations that would be in and out the same afternoon in other parts of the EU become nine-month waiting list jobs.

Casualy suffers from the belief that pain is ennoblingn an act of faith for the Scottish matrons who set the ethos for the whole service. The only time I was in casualty in a hospital in the UK I found the service not only to be worse than Madrid or Barcelona (which have some of the most efficient casualty deparments in the world) but worse than Saudi or Sri Lanka.

On the other hand if you have the misfortune to catch TB you will find the TB clinic at the University Hosptital wonderful.

Albulbul · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 364

The continuing decline of the NHS is just another facet of the rapid decline of Britain.

Glad I escaped to somewhere civilised. No, not Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, but then after Lancashire, anywhere is civilised.

yaramaz · Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 7:37 am Post subject:

Irish Blood English etc, my good lad: kindly do not lump in all nations in N. America into one homogenous system. I think you are referring to the US health care system which is for profit. The Canadian one is like the British one. I like not having to fear for my non-insured health whenever I go home for a break...

Irish Blood English Heart · Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 8:07 am Post subject: