www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/International/OverseasVisitors/fs/en
In general, all overseas visitors are entitled to receive emergency or immediately necessary medical treatment free of charge on the NHS. For visitors requiring any other medical treatment, there is no obligation by the practitioner to provide it. If a practitioner wishes to provide it outside the emergency situation, it should be on a “private” basis.
Access to GP treatment
A person who is ordinarily resident in the UK is eligible for free treatment by a GP on the NHS. Overseas visitors to the UK are not regarded as ordinarily resident if they are not lawfully living in the UK for a settled purpose as part of the regular order of their life for the time being. Any person who leaves the UK to live abroad should be removed from his/her GP list after three months.
Circumstances which entitle overseas visitors to free treatment are detailed in the Department of Health website link (above)
Hospital treatment
All treatment for overseas visitors given by hospital staff may be subject to a charge with the following exceptions:
- Treatment given in an Accident and Emergency department (excludes emergency treatment given elsewhere in the hospital);
- Treatment given in a walk in centre providing similar services to those of an accident and emergency department of a hospital;
- Treatment for certain communicable diseases (excluding HIV/AIDS where it is only the first diagnosis and connected counselling sessions that are charge free)
The hospital will make the final decision on whether treatment is free.
