Visitors and temporary residents

Visitors & temporary residents

UK citizens

If you are in the area for a short time and require medical treatment you are able to register with this practice as a temporary resident. This gives you the same access to general medical services as registered patients but either for a period of 24 hours up to 15 days, or between 15 days and three months.

If you are going to be in the area for longer than three months you should register fully with a GP.

If you are registered with another practice locally it is essential that you to attend your own practice where your medical notes are available.

Overseas visitors

People from abroad are eligible for free treatment on the NHS in the case of an emergency. Broadly, this means that if, in the opinion of the GP, your condition requires emergency treatment you will not be charged for a consultation with the GP.

If you require treatment or medication for a pre-existing condition you will be charged a fee, which then should be claimed back via your insurance company.

Please note that these conditions also apply to British nationals living abroad.

If you are in the area for less than 24 hours and have an accident you can receive emergency treatment at the minor injuries unit at West Mendip Hospital. However, it should be remembered that this is not a casualty department and if it is thought that an X-ray is required after hours the patient should be taken straight a district hospital .

BMA Guidelines for NHS Eligibility (Extract from)

"Past or present payment of UK taxes or National Insurance contributions are not taken into account when establishing eligibility to receive free NHS treatment. NHS eligibility relates to being 'ordinarily resident' in the United Kingdom. Overseas visitors are defined as persons of any nationality, including British nationals, not ordinarily resident in the UK."

"Anybody who is in the UK for 'a settled purpose' will normally be considered to be 'ordinarily resident'; in practice, following court cases, this means anyone who is in the UK for a period of six months or more. Special regulations apply to EEA residents and visitors from bilateral healthcare agreement countries."