Emergency care in the UK

cheshirecat · Sep 2, 2007

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.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 2, 2007

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

Altra, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2007

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?

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 3, 2007

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

ayla2004, ASN, RN · Sep 3, 2007

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

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 3, 2007

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

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2007

Hooray for the success of Universal Health Care

scattycarrot, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2007

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.....

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Sep 4, 2007

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

Silverdragon102, BSN · Sep 5, 2007

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

Altra, BSN, RN · Sep 5, 2007

Thanks to all for the info.