Emergency care in the UK

Specialties Emergency

Published

Specializes in Emergency, neonatal, pediatrics.

This letter to the editor was in our local paper today - I thought it would be worth sharing.

Eye-opening ER

This is in reference to your editorial "Fading Fast: Neglect of U.S. Health Care Takes Its Toll" (Aug. 20). On a trip to England in June, my wife developed a serious infection. We went to an emergency room in London that was packed. We almost went home because we thought we would be there for hours. Forty-five minutes later my wife, Judy, was seen by two physicians who consulted two other physicians. An hour and a half into our ER stay, Judy walked out of the examination room with a diagnosis and a prescription for medication. We were met with incredulous chuckles when we asked where we should pay for her treatment. "No one pays for emergency treatment in the U.K.," we were told by a smiling young nurse.

We were then directed to walk down a hall to get Judy's meds. Ten minutes later she received them. This time when she inquired as to the price of the meds she was told that no one over 60 pays for medication in the United Kingdom.

We were overjoyed by this wonderful treatment: Two hours after we arrived, my wife had received excellent medical care and medication all for no charge. We didn't have to worry about pre-approval, submitting claims or arguing with our providers about coverage.

We were not only embarrassed that our country doesn't provide such treatment, but angry at its failure to do so.

CHARLES W. BRICE

Edgewood

Specializes in midwifery, gen surgical, community.

To be honest I think USA citizens are suppossed to pay for treatment they receive in the UK, but often the nurses and admin staff are reluctant to fill in forms.

EU citizens, I think, would get free emergency treatment due to reciprocal agreements.

I hope the patient mentioned got well fast and enjoyed the rest of her holiday.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

everyone is entitled to emergency care but think they should pay towards medication which they then claim back from their holiday insurance. That is how I have read the rules. Will see if I can find the link about it. I know that is how we worked in a GP surgery and one of the GP's provided us with information and guidance on emergency care for foreign nationals

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

While the writer did not pay out of pocket for treatment or meds, I'm not so sure that his/her insurance did not pay for treatment, possibly at a higher rate than typical NHS reimbursement. Can any UK allnurses members possibly shed some more light on this?

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

comment for department of health in the uk

what do i have to pay for?

all treatment given by staff at a hospital or by staff employed by a hospital may be subject to a charge with the following exceptions, which are free to all:

* 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);

* compulsory psychiatric treatment.

* family planning services

eligibility for free hospital treatment under the nhs

emergency treatment is free to all but if admitted to hospital or treatment is to be continued ie dressings then there is a charge

the op got her take home meds free as over 60, but even if she had to pay the prescription charge is about £6.25 pound per item no matter what the drug itself costs.

so even if you had the pay fro the prescription it probably wouldn't be worth claiming what with excess(co-pays)

no wonder the NHS strugles at times

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
the op got her take home meds free as over 60, but even if she had to pay the prescription charge is about £6.25 pound per item no matter what the drug itself costs.

so even if you had the pay fro the prescription it probably wouldn't be worth claiming what with excess(co-pays)

no wonder the NHS strugles at times

She would have probably had to pay the full price as the prescription charges does not cover foreign patients. The pharmacy may not be equipped in the hospital to charge foreign nationals and couldn't be bothered to make the effort

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Hooray for the success of Universal Health Care

Specializes in ITU/Emergency.
While the writer did not pay out of pocket for treatment or meds, I'm not so sure that his/her insurance did not pay for treatment, possibly at a higher rate than typical NHS reimbursement. Can any UK allnurses members possibly shed some more light on this?

Emergency care is free and so the couple would not have involved their insurance company at all, they wouldn't even need to know about the ER visit. As for the meds, I have worked in 2 UK ER's and in both of them all prescriptions were free. People used to come for antibiotics,etc instead of going to their GP as they wouldn't have to pay the prescription charge. Changes were afoot in both these places however to start charging. It has to be said, that the NHs has ALOT of problems right now and is failing in a lot of ways but the emergency care there is generally outstanding, especailly when you consider it is underresourced and understaffed. And I am talking about patients who actually need emergency care and not those who are using it as their primary care provider. The latter generally have to wait and are the ones who are most vocal and tend to complain as they have been waiting for 4 hours to see the doctor about their ingrown toenail. Its a shame we don't actually charge those people as maybe they wouldn't abuse the system so much. And don't even get me started on the fact that we don't charge for ambulance rides in the Uk, even if it is for a scratch on the arm or standing on a plug in the bath and the list like this goes on.....

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.
Emergency care is free and so the couple would not have involved their insurance company at all, they wouldn't even need to know about the ER visit. As for the meds, I have worked in 2 UK ER's and in both of them all prescriptions were free. People used to come for antibiotics,etc instead of going to their GP as they wouldn't have to pay the prescription charge. Changes were afoot in both these places however to start charging. It has to be said, that the NHs has ALOT of problems right now and is failing in a lot of ways but the emergency care there is generally outstanding, especailly when you consider it is underresourced and understaffed. And I am talking about patients who actually need emergency care and not those who are using it as their primary care provider. The latter generally have to wait and are the ones who are most vocal and tend to complain as they have been waiting for 4 hours to see the doctor about their ingrown toenail. Its a shame we don't actually charge those people as maybe they wouldn't abuse the system so much. And don't even get me started on the fact that we don't charge for ambulance rides in the Uk, even if it is for a scratch on the arm or standing on a plug in the bath and the list like this goes on.....

Most EMS do not have a no transport policy if the situation is so minor. Unless the wants to refuse treatment. We get the EMS being abused by so many people.For so many reasons, it simply staggers the imagination

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Emergency care is free and so the couple would not have involved their insurance company at all, they wouldn't even need to know about the ER visit. As for the meds, I have worked in 2 UK ER's and in both of them all prescriptions were free. People used to come for antibiotics,etc instead of going to their GP as they wouldn't have to pay the prescription charge. Changes were afoot in both these places however to start charging. It has to be said, that the NHs has ALOT of problems right now and is failing in a lot of ways but the emergency care there is generally outstanding, especailly when you consider it is underresourced and understaffed. And I am talking about patients who actually need emergency care and not those who are using it as their primary care provider. The latter generally have to wait and are the ones who are most vocal and tend to complain as they have been waiting for 4 hours to see the doctor about their ingrown toenail. Its a shame we don't actually charge those people as maybe they wouldn't abuse the system so much. And don't even get me started on the fact that we don't charge for ambulance rides in the Uk, even if it is for a scratch on the arm or standing on a plug in the bath and the list like this goes on.....

For the last couple of years if you pay for prescriptions then a charge is either done there and then or you receive a bill through the post. I remember getting some antibiotics a couple of years ago for a bad asthma attack and had to pay for my steroids and antibiotics through A&E

Also to add the only time you pay for an ambulance is if involved in a RTA even if passenger, again from personal experience I have come across this, plus you also get charged from A&E if it is a RTA but the invoice usually comes a few weeks later and you just hand it over to insurance or you pay it

Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Thanks to all for the info.

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