Overseas and Private Patients Information

Maternity Treatment

Always considered immediately necessary, so care will never be delayed or refused but may still be chargeable.

A&E Treatment

Immediately necessary, lifesaving care provided in an Accident & Emergency Department (A&E) is exempt from charges for all patients, regardless of eligibility.

Other Emergency Care

If a patient is admitted for emergency care outside of A&E e.g. Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC), they may be charged if they are not eligible for free NHS treatment

To establish your eligibility the Overseas Visitors team will ask questions about your residential status to determine if you are entitled to free NHS care.  These checks can apply to any patient, regardless of:

• Nationality

• Previous payment of National Insurance contributions or taxes

• Having an NHS number

This is because entitlement to free NHS treatment is based on ordinary residence, not any of the above.

Reciprocal Healthcare Agreements:
If you normally live in a country that has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, you may be entitled to free healthcare for treatment that becomes necessary during your visit.

European Economic Area (EEA) Visitors:
If you live in an EEA country and have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC):

• You are entitled to free emergency treatment only (not pre-planned care).
• The EHIC must be in your name and within its expiry date
• You need to bring the card with you to hospital
• If you do not have a valid EHIC, you must request a valid Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) from your home country, or you will be charged.

Travel Insurance

• Please provide a copy of your valid travel insurance certificate and insurer contact details
• We strongly recommend you contact your insurance company without delay to inform them of your treatment at our Trust
• This ensures your insurer can authorise and cover costs promptly, reducing any financial burden on you.

British Citizens Who No Longer Reside In The UK

• British citizens who live abroad are classed as overseas visitors under the Overseas Visitors Charging Regulations and are not automatically entitled to free NHS hospital treatment.
• NHS care is free only for those who are ordinarily resident in the UK, meaning they live in the country lawfully, voluntarily, and on a permanent settled basis;
• British nationality alone does not confer eligibility. As non‑resident UK nationals, they may therefore be charged for NHS hospital services beyond A&E and urgent treatment unless a specific exemption applies.

If you have received a request to provide your identification documents, you should provide these to OSV team and inbox.

To help us to check if you are entitled to free healthcare, you will need to provide documents e.g. proof of identity, a valid Visa if applicable and proof of permanent address. See below for which documents you can provide.

Identity

• Current signed passport
• EU or Swiss national identity photo-card
• Citizen card

It is best to provide proof of your right to reside in the UK. This will help us to determine your eligibility quicker and avoid delays to your treatment. For example, this could be:-

• UK or Irish Passport
• Settled/Pre-Settled status
• Asylum registration card
• Share code to digital Visa

Address

• Recent original utility bill (gas, electric, TV license, Broadband bill,)
• Council tax bill (valid for current year)
• Bank or building society statement
• Recent original mortgage statement from recognised lender
• Current council/housing association tenancy agreement
• Notification letter from Department for Work and Pensions or HM Revenue and Customs confirming receipt of benefit or state pension

Please note this list is non-exhaustive and other documents may be considered.

• Asylum Seekers including failed Asylum seekers in receipt of home office support S4, S95.
• Refugees
• UK state pensioners living in an EEA states country with a valid S1 document registered in that country.

Immigration Health surcharge payees (IHS)

If you have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your visa application, you are generally entitled to free NHS treatment for the duration of your visa. This applies to most non-EEA nationals who come to the UK for more than 6 months.

What’s covered:

• Most NHS services, including GP visits and hospital treatment.

What’s not covered:

• Prescriptions, dental treatment, and optical care (these may still have charges).
• Services not normally free for UK residents.
• Assisted conception services*

*Assisted conception services

If you have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge fee (IHS) You still must pay for all assisted conception appointments, investigations and treatment. Assisted conception is defined as any medical, surgical, or obstetric service provided to help someone have a child.

This includes (but is not limited to):-

• Fertility assessments and diagnostic tests.
• Medication to stimulate ovulation.
• Surgical procedures relating to infertility

These charges apply even if your partner lives in the UK and is normally exempt from NHS charges.

We may share non-clinical information about you to external agencies for the purpose of:-

• Confirming your entitlement to free NHS treatment, or
• Recovering debts owed to us for treatment provided

• Always try to recover monies owed for treatment provided
• Advise the Home Office about outstanding debts of more than £500 for more than two months
• Advise that we may use external debt collection agencies or take court action to recover debts

Please be aware that the Home Office and Border Force may refuse you entry to the UK for as long as a debt remains unpaid and any outstanding debt will affect any future visa applications.

• Salford Royal Hospital: 0161 206 7422
• The Royal Oldham Hospital: 0161 656 1752
• Fairfield General Hospital: 0161 656 1752
• Rochdale Infirmary Hospital: 0161 656 1752

Email address for all sites: overseas@nca.nhs.uk