Overseas visitors - Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

If you are visiting the United Kingdom (UK) and require treatment at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, you may be charged for your treatment.

Do I have to pay for treatment?

NHS hospital treatment is not free for everyone. Anyone of any nationality who is not ordinarily resident in the UK at the time of treatment is considered an ‘overseas visitor’. This means that you may be charged for the treatment you receive at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Hospital.

NHS hospitals have a legal obligation to establish whether a person is an overseas visitor, and whether charges apply or the person has an exemption. Where there is no exemption, the person liable must be charged so that the NHS hospital can recover the cost from them.

The Department of Health overseas visitor charging regulations require all trusts in England to identify and charge overseas visitors for the treatment they receive.

Establishing your residency

When you arrive at the hospital, you will be asked to confirm how long you have lived in the UK. You may also be asked to complete a form and provide documents to prove you are ordinarily a resident in the UK.

The following does not automatically mean that you are a resident in the UK and are entitled to free NHS care:

Having British nationality
Holding a British passport
Being registered with a GP
Having an NHS number
Owning property in the UK
Having paid (or are currently paying) National Insurance contributions and taxes in this country.

Whether a person is ordinarily a resident in the UK is a question of fact, and a number of factors are taken into account.

If you cannot provide documents you may have to pay a deposit equal to the estimated cost of your treatment before you have an appointment or treatment.

Maternity services, or treatment which the doctor or nurse think is immediately necessary or urgent, will not be withheld. However charges will still apply and you will receive an invoice after your treatment.

What type of documents can I provide?

You must provide one photographic document and any other documents as proof of address.

The following documents can be used as proof of identity:

Current signed passport
Biometric Residence Permit issued by the Home Office
Valid UK photo-card driving licence
EU or Swiss national identity photo-card
Application Registration Card (ARC)
Valid armed forces or police photographic identity card

The following documents can be used as proof of address – they must contain your current address and be dated within the last six months:

Recent original utility bill i.e. gas, electric, water, landline (mobile not acceptable)
Council Tax bill for the current year
Bank, Building Society or Credit Union statement
Recent original mortgage statement from a recognised lender
Current Council or Housing Association tenancy agreement or rent book
Notification letter from the Department for Work and Pensions confirming your National Insurance Number, entitlement to Benefits or a State Pension.

Patients living in European Economic Area (EEA) countries

If you need to access our services during your visit to the UK, you will need to show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC).

If you do not have these documents with you and cannot demonstrate that you have an exemption to charges, you will be required to pay for your treatment and recover the costs from your ‘healthcare abroad team’ when you return home.

How can I obtain a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC)?

As a visitor, it is your responsibility to apply for a PRC and provide it to the Trust. To obtain your PRC, contact your institution by finding their details on the European Commission website.

Alternatively you can download the EHIC app to your smartphone – in the “I lost my card” section, select your country and your health insurance fund contact telephone, email and website address will then be displayed.

What happens if I fail to pay?

If charges apply to your NHS treatment and you fail to pay them, your future application to enter or remain in the UK may be denied. Necessary (non-medical) personal information may be passed via the Department of Health to the Home Office for this purpose.

What treatment can I get for free?

Some NHS services are free to everyone, such as family-planning services or treatment of certain infectious diseases.

Treatment at the Emergency Department is free only up to the point an overseas visitor is admitted as an inpatient or is given an outpatient appointment – if you are admitted to a ward, the Clinical Decisions Unit, the Acute Medical Unit or any other assessment unit (including Same Day Emergency Care units), then charges will apply.

More information

If you have any concerns or need more information, please contact the Overseas Visitors team, Monday to Friday on 01892 635896 or mtw-tr.overseas@nhs.net.