Been given NHS number - confused

[jlgsy94]

Not sure if I am posting/asking this in the right section but here goes.

I am a Danish national who have been living in Guernsey, Channel Islands for the past 12 years, and am currently 31 weeks pregnant with 4th baby. Due to baby having Spina Bifida I will be having my C-section at Princess Anne in Southampton.

At my last appointment at the hospital (28 weeks), they did a "booking appointment" after the growth scan so that all my details would be on their systems. When the specialist midwife gave me the printout of the paperwork, I noticed two things; a hospital number, and underneath that an NHS number.

I thought you had to live on mainland UK and registered with a GP there to be given an NHS number? Can someone clarify what this might mean and if say I can go to the GP following the birth should I become ill or whatever?

[ragged]

I think it's mandatory for everyone treated by NHS to get a number.

It's odd, really, given how difficult it is for NHS organisations to share information with each other. Why bother to pretend they can track patients? But they do.

I don't know about the wider entitlement possibilities, sorry. All a mess with Brexit, anyway.

[joblotbubble]

The NHS number is an identifier. It's nothing to do with entitlement.

[SeaSaltandLime]

As above, the NHS number isn't an entitlement to anything.
It's just another way to track you/your notes on the system.

[Lougle]

This leaflet explains about off-island treatment. Because it's an agreement between the NHS and Guernsey for funded care, you're treated as if you're a NHS patient, AFAIK. Have they talked to you about travel grants, etc.? I used to work for a hospital that they refer to and did a couple of post- treatment repatriation flights to Guernsey and Jersey.