Loved abroad for 15 years and travelling home to Uk, can I access nhs healthcare?

[Nhsquery]

I’ve lived abroad in Australia for 15 years but am making a long overdue trip home next week for almost 2 months. I’m also in the very early stages of pregnancy. If I had to access healthcare while home, can I do that no problem? Would I have to pay? Just a thought that came into my head there and I’m panicking

You can receive emergency care as a non resident.
However if you needed to be admitted to hospital then technically you should pay.
You should have travel insurance arranged for your visit.

I have absolutely no idea how accurate this is, but I accompanied my mum to one of her hospital appointments recently and the receptionist was asking everyone booking in whether they had lived in the UK for the last 12 months. Someone in the queue asked why they were being asked this, and apparently it was so that anyone who said no, they hadn't lived here for the last 12 months could be billed for their care.
I would definitely find out for definite (somehow!) tho OP, as although that's definitely what I heard I can't say for certain it's not a load of codswallop!
Sorry if that's not much help!!

It used to be you ceased to qualify once you’d been gone 6 months

I think they’re going to expect payment

You may well be charged @Nhsquery
Worth speaking to Maternity Action if you can. They have a helpline specifically for pregnant women who are being charged (or are worried about being charged) for NHS maternity care. You can email if you can't call maternityaction.org.uk/maternity-care-access-advice-service/

We had some German family visit recently. One woman is pregnant and needed treatment for an infection. She had a gp appointment and didn't have to pay for her prescription as she was pregnant. Not the same as a hospital stay obviously. Not sure if she should have been charged but no-one mentioned it! We were very clear that she was on holiday.

You're only entitled to NHS care if ordinarily resident. So if you're coming back here to live, it would be free. If not, you could be charged.

There is a reciprocal healthcare agreement in place between the UK and Australia - similar to those in place with the EU. You might want to check what is covered and make sure you have your Medicare card.

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/reciprocal-health-care-agreement-visiting-united-kingdom?context=22481

Do you plan to take out travel insurance that covers medical expenses abroad?

As a British national you still need to be ordinarily resident in the UK to access NHS care. I believe This means intending to live in the UK for at least sixth months.

If you are coming on holiday you need to have travel insurance.

I’ve just had a hospital appointment and had to give my passport number and state how long I’ve lived in the UK (69 years since birth 😂) amongst lots of other detailed questions to ascertain my eligibility.

The reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia should cover you for complications of pregnancy and any other minor medical emergencies, but I would get travel insurance just in case of any extreme events, eg needing medical repatriation if you had a bad accident. Travel insurance may not cover pregnancy - check exclusions.

It depends a bit on your status. If you are ordinarily resident in the UK, then you can still access UK healthcare, but most likely you won't meet the criteria for that. If you're still registered with a GP in the UK, you may be able to access treatment quite easily, but in your shoes, I wouldn't risk it personally - take out private medical insurance instead. It will give you peace of mind, and it's also morally the right thing to do... you're not contributing to the UK any more, so you shouldn't expect the UK taxpayer to foot the bill for any treatment you might need.

Apparently it depends on the arrangement the country you live in has with the uk, if you're visiting.
If you've moved back, they can (and do,) ask you to prove this. You're telling the truth so will have no problem with this- they can ask for all sorts, eg proof of house sale or demonstrate what you've actually done that you wouldn't do if you were just here for the healthcare- like bringing your dog and putting it in quarantine or starting your children at a new school!
Good luck with the move!