Documenting my attempt to pay off any outstanding NHS fees

Some backstory: I am currently in the UK on a spousal visa. I About a year and a half ago I stayed in the UK as a visitor for 6 months (no visa) while I was pregnant. While in the country I used the NHS for some antenatal care, specifically at my local surgery and the hospital in town (Musgrove Park).

As I will be applying for LTR I have endeavored to track down my outstanding NHS fees (as I was not eligible for free care as a visitor) so I may pay them off before this time. I have a while to go before my spouse visa runs up but I thought it best to get this done early.

I first went to my surgery and queried the receptionist. She looked through my file on her computer and told me that she showed no outstanding fees owed. She told me they would have sent my husband a bill if they had required payment. She told me to inquire at the hospital for any debt I may have there (I had some scans done and some injections - surely there would be a rather large total).

I called the Patient Liason service and explained my dilemma. They referred me to the unit for Private and Overseas Patients called Parkside. They told me that a Ms. Clark was the Administrator. I have spent the past few days attempting to reach Ms. Clark, who apparently has really irregular hours.

I finally got a hold of her today and I asked her if she was the administrator for overseas patients. She told me very rudely that she was not. I was able to drag out of her the name of the administrator but I didn't quite hear the last name correctly - Adrian Mountford or something in finance? I asked if she knew his extension and she, with the same rudeness, replied no but said she'd connect me. Nobody answered at the connection so I hung up.

I have done searches on the hospital's website but could find no one in "finance" named Adrian. I did find a different name for the manager of the Private and Overseas Patients Wing, and it said to contact Parkside to reach her. So I guess I will contact Parkside AGAIN tomorrow to see if I can reach this person whom nobody mentioned, or call the switchboard and see if I can reach this legendary finance department with Mr. Adrian Idon'tknowhislastnamereally.

I would go down to the hospital myself to try to sort this out but it takes a (rather expensive) ride on the bus with my fifteen-month-old, ie a total pain.

Will update with result tomorrow, I must say that I feel I'm being given the complete runaround and nobody knows how to help me. I am trying to give you money, why can't you make this easy?!?!

Is my memory faulty, or are you the one in Taunton?

Yes, I'm in Taunton.

My husband works for NHS Somerset, I'll see if he can find out who you would need to contact.  He might not know, because he's not directly involved with the hospitals, but it's worth a try.

OK So I called the switchboard today. It was automated and I sort of mumbled "Adrian Mountfo...." and I was directly connected! I spoke to Adrian and he was very friendly. I told him the whole story.

He told me that sometime over the next few weeks he would look in my files and see what he could find. He told me that he would have to add up all my visits and retroactively bill me!  Obviously I don't want him to do this, but I understand it's completely fair. I guess my goal was just for him to check if I owed anything, and if nothing was on file, then to just forget about it. But looks like he's going to bill me perhaps....no problem, I guess.

I was sure to stress that if I didn't owe anything, to send a letter stating this. Maybe I'll get lucky (probably not). But anyway I gave him my address and asked him to do everything through the post so I can have a paper trail. So we'll see how it goes from here!

Nicole, glad to hear you reached the infamous Adrian hehe. That would be a plus if you DIDN'T owe anything, but if you do I'm glad to hear you're taking the honest road. I frequently deal with non friendly people in the medical industry due to my daughter's therapies and whatnot. Sometimes you have to grit your teeth and bear the rudeness or politely put them in their place I was always told you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, but when someone is being rude for no reason at all you have to draw the lkine somewhere. Best of luck sorting this issue out!

Hi Nicole,

I read your post with interest. Blast Films in London are making a documentary for the BBC 's Panorama series on the UK’s National Health Service, looking at the ways that overseas visitors access healthcare in the UK. We are keen to speak to overseas citizens who have used the NHS about whether or not they have been required to pay for their treatment, and wondered if we could have a chat about the experiences you've outlined here? If you're amenable, I'd be very grateful if you could contact me either at molden@blastfilms.co.uk or on + 44 207 267 4260.

Many thanks.

Mark Olden
Associate Producer
Blast Films
London