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Covering Letter

Healthcare Policy and Strategy Directorate
Patients and Quality Division

CEL 9 (2008)

February 2008

Dear Colleague

OVERSEAS VISITORS - SHORTENED GUIDANCE

Summary

1. This letter advises of the publication of revised, updated and shortened guidance on overseas visitors and exemption from NHS charges.

Background

2. I am enclosing with this letter a copy of revised, updated and shortened guidance on the circumstances in which certain overseas visitors, including those who wish to take up long-term residence in Scotland, are exempt from NHS charges. In this context, "exempt from NHS charges" does not mean they will be exempt from all healthcare charges, but that they will be entitled to receive NHS care and services on exactly the same basis as those ordinarily resident in the UK.

3. For example, those ordinarily resident in the UK do not pay for NHS services such as medical treatment or NHS eye/dental examinations. They do pay for "chargeable" services, such as NHS dental treatment and NHS prescriptions/wigs/fabric supports, unless they fall within the categories of people who are exempt from patient charges e.g. categories based on age or income.

4. All overseas visitors who do not fall within the parameters of this guidance should be charged privately for non-emergency treatment, for family health services and other types of treatment as outlined in the guidance. This guidance partly supersedes the Manual of Guidance for Overseas visitors which the Scottish Office published in 1997, pending a full revision of the Manual.

5. No further printed copies of this guidance will be issued. However, the online version at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent will be updated as necessary with a formal reviewed conducted each year. The next formal review will be carried out in February 2009.

6. It should be noted that this guidance is aimed at ensuring that the great majority of overseas visitors, who are our welcome guests and have an entitlement to NHS care on the same basis as those who are ordinarily resident while they are here, have the minimum of difficulty in accessing care and services, and that the minority who are seeking to exploit our hospitality are prevented from doing so.

Action

7. Chief Executives are asked to:

• ensure that this letter and guidance are copied to everyone in their organisations who is likely to deal with overseas visitors, including hospital overseas patients managers;
• ensure that their primary care administrators copy and distribute this letter and guidance to all GPs, dental practitioners, optometrists, ophthalmic medical practitioners and community pharmacists on NHS Board lists since these are likely to receive the initial approaches from overseas visitors seeking NHS care; and

Yours sincerely

DEREK FEELEY

Addresses

For action
Chief Executives, NHS Boards

For information
Chief Executives, Special Health Boards
Clinical Directors, NHS Boards
Directors of Nursing, NHS Boards
Hospital Overseas Patients Managers
Primary Care Administrators, NHS Boards
Fraud Liaison Officers, NHS Boards
Director, Practitioner Services
Head of Service, NHSScotland Counter Fraud Services

Enquires to:

Tel: 0131-244-3211
Fax: 0131-244-2989
Bryan.Livingstone@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
http://www.scotland.gov.uk

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