How to Access Reciprocal Agreement NHS Care in UK.
On an extended visit to the UK in 2011 to research family history I ran out of the essential medications brought to UK & so began journey & learning about the entitlements of Australians to NHS treatment whilst visiting the UK.
Many Australians travellers who are covered by Medicare in Australia, may be unaware that they are entitled to reciprical health care from a GP in the UK on the NHS. You are entitled to be treated by a doctor as an NHS patient & the cost of the consultation & prescription medicine prescribed by the doctor will be covered by the NHS the same as if you are a UK Resident. After contacting Medicare in Australia several times whilst I was having problems finding a UK doctor who was aware of & would honour this agreement, the Australian Medicare website now confirms this reciprical health care agreement information very clearly.
Unfortunately the NHS in the UK does not provide clear, precise information about the reciprical health care agreement it has with Australia & the result of this lack of clear information is that every doctor I consulted in the UK - 5 in all over a period of a week was stubbornly of the opinion that they could only treat Australian travellers under the NHS if it was an emergency - defined by them as a life or death situation or an accident. Needing medication for chromic long term health problems were not covered according to them.
Any attempt at reasoning with them or showing them the information was met with rudeness, arrogance & anger. It was extremely upsetting, time wasting & frustrating especially as lack of medication was making pain & other symptoms much worse.
Why persevere? Medications & a consultation for Arthritis, Rheumatism & Chronic Fatigue - normally subsidised by Medicare were going to cost over 400 pounds for a month's supply if not covered by NHS. This figure is far higher than even the non subsidised cost in Australia.
Problem was solved in the end by visiting the head office of the NHS in Glasgow who confirmed that the GP's were wrong in their understanding of the agreement & should have given treatment under the NHS. Their advise was to go to the local hospital accident & emergency centre for treatment.
As soon as I went to the local hospital accident & emergency centre, the treatment & care I received was amazing. All the staff were well aware of the reciprical health agreements the UK has with other countries & I was treated quickly, compassionately & efficiently by their staff who then referred to their 24 After Hours Clinic who treated & supplied prescriptions on the NHS.
Hope this information helps other Australian travellers who find themselves in a similar situation.
http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Travel-g186216-c170541/United-Kingdom:Medical.Nhs.Care.For.Australians.html
