Clarity on medical services for overseas visitors

30 November 2011

UNCERTAINTY over qualifying criteria for overseas visitors seeking access to NHS services is a common issue among GP practices according to NHSScotland Counter Fraud Services (CFS).

The CFS is a division of NHS National Services Scotland and works with all of Scotland’s health boards to raise awareness of, deter and investigate fraud within the health service in Scotland. As part of this remit the organisation delivers fraud awareness presentations to practices in protected learning time events and one of the most frequently asked questions at these sessions is around the subject of overseas visitors and the qualifying criteria that allows them to access NHS services.

Whilst this area of work is not the responsibility of CFS, unless a fraud is suspected, the team appreciate the concerns of practices and aim to provide as much information as possible to facilitate an understanding of this complicated subject.

The Scottish Government has recently introduced measures to support practice staff.

If you are unsure as to the eligibility of an overseas visitor registering at your practice the options open to you are:

• Contact the Primary Care Lead within your health board area, who will tell you the name of a designated single point of contact (SPOC) within the board.
• Contact NHS Inform on 0800 22 44 88

Other useful links include:

• http://www.cfs.scot.nhs.uk/
• www.hris.org.uk/patient-information/
• www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health
• www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/14162503/0