Medical Treatments: British Nationality

Sarah Teather
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what entitlement British citizens who have recently returned from overseas have to treatment at GP surgeries.

Andy Burnham
The national health service is intended first and foremost for the benefit of people living in the United Kingdom. General practices have discretion over whom they register as a patient but people who are living lawfully in the UK and for a settled purpose, are entitled to register with a practice. This includes British citizens who have recently returned from overseas and who intend to settle here.

In addition, anyone, whether they are a UK resident or from overseas, who requires treatment which, in the clinical opinion of a general practitioner or health care professional, is an emergency or immediately necessary is entitled to receive that treatment free of charge irrespective of whether the person is registered with that practice.