NHS requires proof of eligibility to services

[Iloveantiques]

I've been referred by my dentist to the hospital.

Apparently because I am a new registration (nope, registered with NHS since birth) new to this area (nope, been here nearly 30 years) or a recent arrival to the UK (nope, never lived abroad) I have to prove my eligibility for services without charge.

Is this normal now? does the NHS really make hospitals check the eligibility of everyone newly referred?

I have emailed for an explanation but wondered if anyone else had come across this?

Is it the first time you’ve visited that hospital? If you are that would be why you’re a new registration. I don’t see why there’s a problem with it. You’re entitled to NHS treatment so it’s not an issue.

Yep. Mrs May's 'hostile environment'. Makes you sick.

I had to bring proof the hospital for my 12 week scan. Despite having had one there the year before for baby #1.

It wasn’t a massive deal, just meant showing them my council tax bill.

Same hospital I had my baby at so not a new registration in that sense no.

This isn't new, it's a standard practice and has been for years. Every first appointment I've had, I've been asked to prove elegibility to use the NHS, including at 11 to see the orthodontist at my local hospital my dad had to provide proof.
That was 18 years ago, so not a new Tory thing unfortunately... We were under Mr Blair at that point.

Not that new. I had to prove I was eligible for NHS treatment when I had my booking-in midwife appointment when pregnant with both DDs a couple of years back.

I can’t see the problem , it’s a good thing that they check so that people who should be paying do so .

Not everyone no, but they will check anyone with a new format NHS Number or who is known to have lived overseas recently or for whom they can’t find an NHS number.
These factors possibly mean someone isn’t ordinarily resident in the UK and therefore not entitled to free treatment. If that’s not you you just show them your ID and they update your record and you won’t be asked again.
NHS treatment isn’t free for those not ordinarily resident and given the state of hospital finances they do need to double check if they’re not sure of your entitlement because if they get it wrong the CCGs won’t pay the hospital for any care you receive.
It’s probably as simple as someone has mispelled your name or put the wrong date of birth which is why they can’t find a record of you.

Yes, I work in this area for the NHS.

We can't win, either we're not checking and 'immigrants are getting our services for free' or it's 'I've paid taxes all my life, how dare you ask me if I can use the NHS'.

If you're settled in the UK for the foreseeable future then it's nothing to worry about and you'll be able to prove eligibility easily.

Yes this is the norm or has been for the past 7 or 8 years.

Our last 3 house moves I have needed to prove who I am at hospitals.

Don't take it as an insult. If it makes you feel better I know that even some serving members of HM Forces referred to hospitals by the DHS have to provide evidence.
Why is everyone sonpissed off with this? Surely It's to stop abuse of services.

Thanks all. If it was just a question of being asked to bring my council tax bill that's fine but the form is asking me for information on which country I have come from and purpose of my stay in the UK etc so I think the wrong end of the stick has been got at some point.

@Aimily This was not standard practice in the NHS 18 years ago. I worked in the finance department at an NHS Trust then, and part of my role was seeking payment from overseas visitors. They were only identified to me if they declared that they were living overseas, if a UK address was given no further checks were done (and very little money recouped). That was policy across the board.

The system did need changing, but not to the extreme it has now. It started to change in 2004, and for good, but now the system has become so restrictive that it has stopped those entitled from getting help too, in particular Windrush victims.

I work in a unit which regularly has people coming from abroad, availing themselves of our free services and then going home. How much of a problem is it to show a bill?

I had to prove eligibility when DS1 was referred at 11. He's 24 now so it's not a new thing.

Yep,
Second pregnancy, the "system" has changed and I had to declare nationality.
I didn't before. Joke on them because I became British last year.
It wasn't a "are you a tax paying resident" question. Nope. It was a "are you British" kind of question.

windysowindy
I think you’ve misunderstood how eligibility for the NHS works. Even ‘
British people who were born here don’t get free care if they’re not ordinarily resident. I guarantee no one was trying to catch you out about your nationality because that’s not how eligibility to free care works.

@gamerwidow exactly my point.
They should want to know if I am a resident, tax paying if they want.
They didn't. They asked me my nationality.
Why do you asume that I have misunderstood?

I was not asked about residency at all. Just nationality.

They should check and it’s definitely not a new thing

I got sent loads of info about providing documentation and ID for a hospital appointment, I gathered it all together but no one ever actually asked to see it or checked it.

How much of a problem is it to show a bill?

I wouldnt be able to show a council tax at my name because it is in DH name. Same with the water bill.
Our home and electricity happens to be in my name because I set it up but it could easily be at DH’s name.
Etc etc
If you are a SAHP, this can create other issues....

Some people will actually find it hard to prove they are resident unless they have taken steps to be sure they have one of those ‘bills’. But of course, it’s the most vulnerable that will struggle the most with that.

I've always been asked my nationality and then I give them my NHS number and I’ve never been asked for any further proof of eligibility

I guess a lot has changed since giving birth 14 years ago.

So what proves residency? I'm being asked for a passport but that doesn't prove residency does it? And they want my employer details. Why?

@windysowindy it's nothing to do with paying tax or being British - you are not entitled to use the NHS just because you are British (despite every British person thinking it's a given).

It's a case of whether you are 'ordinarily resident' which basically means that you are living here and you are settled here for the foreseeable future.

If you are here and settled, it shouldn't be hard to prove it - there's a list of documents a mile long that can be used. The trusts who are only asking for passports though are not following the guidance correctly.