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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Thanks girls :)