Travelling out of the country for more than 3 months
Patients who inform us they will be leaving the country for more than 3 months will be prescribed sufficient medication to enable them to make alternative arrangements at their destination (up to 3 months supply where safe to do so). Patients are advised to register with a local doctor for continuing medication, which they may need to pay for; and it is up to the patient to check if the medicines required are available in the country being visited.
NHS prescriptions must never be obtained by relatives or friends on behalf of patients who are currently abroad, as this constitutes NHS fraud, irrespective of such factors as owning a house in the UK or paying UK taxes. We will not issue medications to be taken abroad on behalf of others.
The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2004, states that a person who leaves the UK with the intention of being away for a period of at least three months is removed from the doctor’s list and, as a consequence, ceases to be eligible for NHS treatment. Therefore at NHMP we are required to deregister a patient who we know or suspect to be residing outside the UK for three months or more. We will be pleased to re-register patients on their return to residence in the UK and can reassure patient that their electronic notes are kept on file for reference on your return.
