Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuart C
She pointed this out to the nurse, and asked for the correct paperwork so the NHS could charge her insurance. The nurse refused, saying it was free. My aunt explained how she didn't live in the country, and the nurse still refused.
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The NHS is not a system geared to billing, treat first, consider cost and recovery later.
Checkin at a US hospital and along with your name address etc you need your SSN (NI Number) and insurance details (or details that there are none). In an A&E situation they are still required to treat and stabilise you then bill you even if you have no means to pay.
The NHS captures information to treat you and then if you are honest enough they will capture details to bill you, even then I have heard stories of them not bothering to do the invoicing as the cost of producing the invoice and recovering the funds vs the cost of the procedure (for lower cost procedures, say an A&E visit for with antibiotics) is uneconomic.
---------- Post added at 10:25 ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xaccers
If that's really the case, then your gf is being negligent in her duties to ensure that the NHS act is being properly implimented.
As I've said before, if my gf needed hospital treatment, we'd be screwed.
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Why so, unless she is here illegally it was my understanding that she is entitled to NHS treatment.
---------- Post added at 10:27 ---------- Previous post was at 10:25 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xaccers
"No recourse to public funds" on your visa means you're stuffed.
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Really! I guess we should ask for the forms so they can bill us for when our son was born in the UK. Whoops.
I'll take Charlies - once you have lived here for a year approach. Is backed up with a pretty definative web link also.
---------- Post added at 10:41 ---------- Previous post was at 10:27 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Escapee
She cant be assused of being negligent, the real problem is the scared management who are terrified of losing a court case. As this country is turning more and more like America the management lack a spine. Any reasonable person would not expect the hospital to provide a house to them when they have just conveniently given their own away to a family member, why the hospital would bother to get involved is a farce. In this instance I believe she should of been removed from the bed, discharged, placed in a waiting room and her son contacted to collect her.
Some people unfortunately take the pi** out of the system, she constantly tells me stories of the attitudes of families who make extreme demands and expect the NHS to provide for their every whim.
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Turning more like America is not really true. There are a lot more frivolous or ambulance chaser type cases in the US, however there are a lot more defence lawyers who manage these cases, settle those that need to be and will take to trial those that are trying it on, inflating medical bills or the nature of their injurys etc.