| Chapter 10: Services
and Treatments Exempt from NHS Charges |
Statutory/Manual
References |
| Hospital Departments |
|
| 1. All treatment (including
informal observation and overnight stay) given in the following Departments are exempt
from NHS charges; |
1989 Reg 3(a) |
|
i. A&E Departments
|
|
|
ii. Casualty Departments
or in pre-treatment 'holding' wards attached to these departments.
|
|
| 2. The exemption from NHS charges
ceases to apply when a overseas patient is formally admitted as an in-patient or
registered at an out-patient clinic when it has been assessed clinically appropriate. The
"Stage 1" procedure should be carried out at this point. |
Chapter 8 |
| Ambulance Services |
|
| 3. Emergency ambulance services
for overseas visitors are exempt from NHS charges. |
|
| Family Planning Services |
|
| 4. NHS charges should not
be levied for overseas visitors for family planning services. |
1989 Reg 3(bb) |
| Table of Infectious Diseases |
|
| 5. Exemption from NHS charges
applies to treatment for any of the following diseases, whether or not the
diagnosis is confirmed: |
1989 Regs, as amended |
|
|
Schedule 1 |
| Bacillary dysentery |
Poliomyelitis |
of 1989 |
| Chickenpox |
Puerperal fever |
Regs |
| Cholera |
Rabies |
|
| Diptheria |
Relapsing fever |
|
| Erysipelas |
Rubella |
|
| Food poisoning |
Scarlet fever |
|
| Legionellosis |
Smallpox |
|
| Leptospirosis |
Tetanus |
|
| Lyme disease |
Toxoplasmosis |
|
| Malaria |
Tuberculosis |
|
| Measles |
Typhoid fever |
|
| Membranous croup |
Typhus fever |
|
| Meningococcal infection |
Viral haemorrhagic fevers |
|
| Mumps |
Viral
hepatitis |
|
| Paratyphoid fever |
Whooping cough |
|
|
|
| Note: Viral
haemorrhagic fever covers, amongst others, Argentine haemorrhagic fever (Junin), Bolivian
haemorrhagic fever (Machupo), Chickungunya haemorrhagic fever, Congo/Crimean haemorrhagic
fever, Dengue fever, Ebola virus disease, haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome
(hantaan), Kyasanur forest disease, Lassa fever, Marburg disease, Omsk haemorrhagic fever,
Rift Valley disease and Yellow fever. |
|
| Sexually Transmitted Diseases |
|
| 6. Exemption from NHS charges
applies to any treatment at a special clinic for sexually transmitted diseases and any
treatment of a sexually transmitted disease resulting from related referral. |
|
| HIV/AIDS |
|
| 7. Exemption from NHS charges
HIV/AIDS is limited to a diagnostic test for the evidence of infection with HIV and
counselling associated with the test and its result. |
1989 Reg 3(d) |
| 8. All hospital out-patients must
pay NHS charges for any drug or medicine designed to treat HIV unless they fall into one
of the exemption categories. Overseas patients will pay the normal prescription charge for
drugs or medicine for the treatment of any other condition. |
|
| Involuntary Psychiatric
Treatment |
|
| 9. Exemption from NHS charges
applies to all overseas patients compulsorily detained in hospital, or received
into guardianship under the Mental Health legislation. |
1989 Reg 3(e) |
| 10. Exemption from NHS charges
applies to treatment given when a Court has made it a condition of probation that
a patient receives such treatment. |
1989 Reg 3(f) |
| 12. Powers exist under Section 83
of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 (1984 Act) to make arrangements for detained
patients to return to their home countries where they have no right of abode
in the UK. Arrangements for the patient’s care and treatment have to be made by the
NHS hospital before such transfers are arranged. Where it is in the interests of the
patient, the Secretary of State for Scotland can, by warrant, authorise the transfer of
the patient with the provision of an escort, if necessary. The Mental Welfare Commission
for Scotland (address below) do not require to approve such transfers but
must always receive copies of transfer warrants relating to the departure from Scotland of
an overseas patient. Mental Welfare Commission
Argyle House
3 Lady Lawson Street
Edinburgh
EH3 9SH |
|
