Aupair and the NHS?

[Principality]

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction please?

Does anyone know if a Spanish aupair is entitled to use the NHS?

I would have thought so, as an EU citizen working in the UK. Some stuff I have read online says yes and other stuff is very complicated.

I rang my dr's and they passed me onto the practice manager who said no, she would not be entitled to see the dr under the NHS but could pay for a private appointment at £30 and then for her prescriptions...

But I'm not convinced...

AP doesn't start til August but I would like get everything sorted in anticipation of her arrival.

She was asking if she needed to bring her TGS card (which apparently is a card issued in Spain which enables you to use the health service of any EU country).

Does anyone know where I can find the correct info to show the practice manager?

Thanks in advance.

I'm not Spanish, but German and when I first came to the UK as an aupair in 2007 I had no problems using the NHS as an aupair. I know some Spanish aupairs who used the NHS and it wasn't an issue at all. I hope that helps.

I am Spanish and when I came here as an aupair in 1988, I used the NHS (legally). In years 2003 to 2006, I had several Spanish aupairs living with us, and they registered with our family GP and used the NHS in the rare occasions they needed it. So, I think your practise manager is wrong. If someone is living in your household and they are from the EU, they can use the NHS. Even if they were just visiting, they could use the emergency services of the NHS in an emergency. Just the same as when a UK citizen goes to another EU country.

This link would seem to say she is entitled to some free health care

www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/aboutnhsservices/uk-visitors/pages/accessing-nhs-services.aspx

the EHIC card entitles you to healthcare to other European countries at the level their citizens get it, so it has to be the same here. The practice manager has it wrong I'd say.

The minute she becomes resident in the UK she is entitled to the same care any other resident would get.

She will need proof of residence such as a bank statement (given that she won't have utility bills!) or possibly her contract with your address as her place of work stating that you provide board and lodging.

In order to use the NHS you need to be resident in the UK for 6 months. As far as I know you can use it as soon as you arrive, as long as you are staying for at least 6 months.

There is good advice on here - scroll to the bottom for GP situation www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/healthcare_e/healthcare_help_with_health_costs_e/nhs_charges_for_people_from_abroad.htm
If your GP will not accept her another local one probably will.

Thanks everyone, I will read through the links now.

:)

She is entitled to use the NHS/register with a GP. We've had issues with our au pairs and my GP in the past though - they can be resistant to registering them (more for the hassel factor it seemed to us with our first AP) but if you have the paperwork mentioned above it should be fine.

yes they are entitled to use the gp, i am stil not convinced what would happen in case of hospitalization was needed though.
I personally also went to GPs a few times, as an EU aupair, nanny, looking for for nanny etc. was also sent to hospital for some tests with now problem. only once was i asked about where i am from before they agreed to take me on /that was in london last year when i came with a badly bumped head, all other places had no problem whatsoever/