If you think you will be able to move back to the UK to qualify for immediate free NHS health care think again.

Just been talking to a retired English gentleman. He was born in the UK and served in the British army, although spent post of his working life overseas,

First time I met him in my condo building about 2 years ago. He was selling up his own condo and moving back to the UK for health reasons.

Just met him again in the condo building. Yes he did sell his condo, but he is now back just having bought a different condo in the same building.

Why? Because he was refused immediate NHS health care. He was told he would have to wait 2 years to qualify. His medication was costing 50 GBP a day so it made sense to return to Thailand to live where he could purchase the same medication (Indian generics?) for 2 GBP a day.

I have no other information about his history but possibly he is a few years short of state retirement age (although he doesn't look it).

I thought I remember reading (probably the Daily Mail) that Cameron promised that UK retirees would always qualify for free NHS care. And in this case the gent was not even a health tourist, he had made a commitment to return to live in the UK by selling his overseas property.

I find this very disturbing. Even though I have my own health insurance I still thought the UK NHS was there as a safety-net in case of serious health issues.

You have to prove that you intend to return to the UK for good , not just for a few months ..

My Parents returned 2 years ago , my Father needed immediate emergency and on going treatment , they had to show their new rental agreement along with the shipping details of household possessions back to the UK ...

There was an investigation by the local authority but nothing to pay

An article in the Daily Telegraph (Sept 2013) states that the current eligibility for free NHS treatment only requires establishing that you are permanently resident, and this is what I understand too.

If you have moved back permanently to the UK and can show this, there is no minimum residence period to establish eligibility.

So must be more to the story that your neighbour is not telling.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/expathealth/10303008/Brits-abroad-could-have-rights-to-free-NHS-treatment-restored.html

'The current qualifying test for free treatment is whether a person is ordinarily resident. This is deemed to be unfair, as it is satisfied almost immediately by many new and temporary migrants, who may have contributed nothing.'

That is right. Rent a room, get job or on the dole and you qualify for NHS.

The gent must have spoken to the wrong people. It isn't what you say but how you say it with those monkeys at NHS.

There is always more to a story than the surface gripe.

I have heard various versions of the same thing. I would simply say that if you have a UK address are on the local gp register etc there shouldnt be a problem.

As with so many things they are judged on a case by case basis those generally giving the story dont always give the FULL story.

From the OP:

Just been talking to a retired English gentleman. He was born in the UK and served in the British army, although spent post of his working life overseas,

Did he seek advice or assistance from any of the ex service organisations?

http://www.veterans-uk.info/welfaresupportcontact.htm

His medication was costing 50 GBP a day so it made sense to return to Thailand to live where he could purchase the same medication (Indian generics?) for 2 GBP a day.

Ah yes, generic Viagra is much easier to buy in Thailand....

From the OP:

Just been talking to a retired English gentleman. He was born in the UK and served in the British army, although spent post of his working life overseas,

Did he seek advice or assistance from any of the ex service organisations?

http://www.veterans-uk.info/welfaresupportcontact.htm

As I have only ever talked to the gent twice and in the street, I know very little about his history. He did mention he was going to raise the matter with his MP.

As regards help from forces' organisations. I looked into the RAF benevolent fund for my 94 year-old-father a few years ago. Unfortunately his pension income was too high and his level of war injury disability was too low for him to qualify for assistance (besides which all the local RAF retirement homes had been turned into respite homes for short term visitors only).

I think you have to plead total poverty to get free services in the UK these days.

Friend of mine left Thailand one week ago. 65 years old, been out of UK for many years. Did 9 years Army service.

He has tumours on his lung and brain. I think he also has early symptoms of Alzheimer's. He is pretty confused and pretty well penniless. After a night at a Heathrow Airport hotel, he took a taxi to the nearest hospital (Hillingdon) and was admitted straight away.