Please help

[excitednewmum]

Hi, i hope you ladies can help me with this as I have been getting mixed advice and information that now I am just so confused.

My situation:
I am from UK but married to someone who is not. I have settle with him in his country. I am currently pregnant and after looking on all the options and what's best for our baby..We have decided to have the baby in UK - ie I intend to reside there permanently when i get back) and mayb after time see If i can take my husband to come and settle with us...I am planning of going back on October where I will be 6 and half month pregnant.

Now what I have heard from family and friends that since I have been away from UK for more than 6 months (12 months to be exact by the time i get back to UK) and have not registered my pregnancy to my GP early that they will make me pay and there might be a problem on accepting me....This, in a way just does not make sence to me but I don'tknow..So my question is i guess all I want to know is this true?

Any advice will be highly appreciated. Thanks!

[Bonsoir]

No don't worry you will be able to have an NHS birth for free if you are British and are living in England at the time of the birth.

[LIZS]

Yes it could be correct if UK isn't now your normal place of residence and you haven't been paying UK Tax/NI in recent past. The PCT won't turn you away but you may have to pay for the birth and care. There was a similar query not so long ago here . I don't think you can necessarily assume your dh will be allowed to reside here long term either, depending on his nationality and whether he has been here in the past.

[WomanAtTheWell]

I think they will query it but my understanding is that if your intention is to remain in the UK permanently your NHS entitlement starts immediately - ie there isn't a qualifying period. BUT I have no idea how you could prove this to the PCT and they may well question it as your OH doesn't have permission to reside here. The person that I had to prove my eligability to was the Overseas Patients Manager at the hospital where I gave birth so if you want to be certain I would track them down and speak to them.

[natation]

Yes there are certain NHS services that have to be paid for, even if you are a British citizen, if you have been out of the UK for a certain period.

But I am not an expert, you should be able to get a more accurate response by looking on NHS websites an then try and track someone down who you can actually talk to - this is not always an easy task, took 18 months to manage to speak to someone at Child Benefit Agency, a bit less time when needing advice about what happens to my national insurance contributions on leaving the UK, I have found getting telephone numbers for UK civil service organisations exwtremely difficult.

[savoycabbage]

When I returned to the UK after two years in Australia I was 'refused' from the GP. I am English and it was the GP that I had been with since I was a baby until I went to university at 18. I can't remember the ins and outs of it now as it was a few years ago now.

[Corkscrewkisses]

If you are British and register with all the proper authorities, you shouldn't have a problem. I moved back to the UK when I was 5 months pregnant, and registered with a GP as soon as I had a permanent address. Your GP will put you in touch with an antenatal team/ midwife. Good luck.

[chloeb2002]

hello i went back to the uk when i was 20 weeks pregnant and could have have ha my baby in the uk. i had been away for 18 months prior and had not paid NI for that time. as long as you are a british citizen they will allow you to access the NHS. You may need to provide proof you are settled back in the uk.. lease or mortgage stuuf normally or a utilities bill.

[mummytime]

Ths website might help www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_family/health/nhs_charges_for_people_from_abroad.htm

[excitednewmum]

Thanks girls :)