Perhaps this question has been asked before but i want know if it's possible as an British expat who been away for 5 years to return to the UK and use the national health service. I am still registered with a doctor there. I my NHS Medical Card and a social security number.

I'm interested in knowing how easy or indeed if it's possible to go home and get treatment for a serious issue like, for example, cancer treatment, heart or other serious condition. It would obviously only be possible if one was capable of travelling of course.

Just wondering what, if any obstacles i would encounter.

Thanks for any info and apologies if the question has been asked before.

me and the wife left uk in 2009,in 2007 i had a double by pass and a new heart valve,i asked my docter what if i needed to return to the uk for treetment she said that as long as you are a british citizen there is no problem,as we handed in our medical cards we will still be entitled to treatment,but after 6years your records will go into storage.

I have a vested interest in the subject so I've been doing research on it recently, the answer seems to differ based on where you live in the UK and the NHS Trust in question, some aspects however seem consistent:

Virtually all NHS Trusts are clamping down on medical tourism, some are more heavy handed than others - medical tourism is defined as the delivery of no cost medical treatment to non-residents;

Technically, if you've been non-resident in the UK for the past three months you lose your eligibility to free NHS treatment, the following link explains residency http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074374;

There is a green paper in circulation currently that calls for the period of absence to be increased from three to six months but it is not yet law;

Anyone requiring emergency medical treatment in the UK will receive it free of charge, regardless of how long they have or have not been resident, but only to stabilize their condition, not to treat it necessarily;

Anyone returning to the UK to live permanently, following a period overseas, becomes immediately eligible for free NHS treatment, there is no waiting period involved as long as the return is permanent and this can be substantiated, e.g proof of sale of overseas property etc;

Individual medical records reside in the care of GP's who are now required to return to central storage the records of any patient not seen in the past twelve months. This aspect has come into focus of late since GP's are paid in part based on the number of patients registered with them and the number of records each holds.

Thanks for the replies.

See also these threads

See also these threads

http://www.thaivisa...._1#entry3683799

http://www.thaivisa...._1#entry3675458

http://www.thaivisa...._1#entry3670533

http://www.thaivisa...._1#entry3668844

Thanks for the links Sheyrl