Getting Birth Control as a Visitor: My expereince

But does the NHS have a routine system in place for billing patients, and for collecting & processing payment?

 

They do collect money for some prescriptions, so there must be some sort of collection system in place. But how that would apply to an entire procedure like childbirth, I have no idea.

But does the NHS have a routine system in place for billing patients, and for collecting & processing payment?

 

They do, yes. But how vigilant the hospital or other service is in doing the appropriate checks, etc is seems to vary.

1) the Marie Stokes clinic

Not being picky, but when Googling it will help people to know that it's actually Stopes with a 'p'.

I went with this last option, and I didn't have to pay  for my visit or pills...I was completely stunned.

Good to know the NHS is some use... Glad to read your positive experience.

Not being picky, but when Googling it will help people to know that it's actually Stopes with a 'p'.

Yes, that was already covered in HME's post much earlier in the thread:

Just in case anyone tries to Google this, it should be Marie Stopes:  www.mariestopes.org.uk.
She was an early campaigner for contraception.

Yes, that was already covered in HME's post much earlier in the thread:

Sorry, I missed that.

I thought it was weird I didn't have to pay anything, to be honest.  Originally, they told me that as a visitor, I'd have to pay £12.50 for the office visit, which would have been fine by me.  And I was completely floored that I didn't have to pay anything and was handed a three month supply of pills.  I kept offering to pay for them and was told no!

BUT - I understand why they do this for visitors.  They don't want the foreign visitors getting pregnant by a Brit and then trying to live in the country or have their baby here.  Think about it...makes total sense when you look at it like that.

BUT - I understand why they do this for visitors.  They don't want the foreign visitors getting pregnant by a Brit and then trying to live in the country or have their baby here.  Think about it...makes total sense when you look at it like that.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think they'll let you live here just because you get pregnant or have a baby here.

True, although I think it complicates things!

I think AOM just ran into a part of the system that isn't dealt with very well.  She was honest about being a visitor and being required to pay but the people she dealt with weren't aware or didn't care.  Just like when I registered at my first GP, I came prepared with visa in passport, but they weren't interested.  They registered me with no proof that I was entitled to register, in the full knowledge that I wasn't British.  (I don't know it for a fact, I thought my accent may have had something to do with it.)

BUT - I understand why they do this for visitors.  They don't want the foreign visitors getting pregnant by a Brit and then trying to live in the country or have their baby here.  Think about it...makes total sense when you look at it like that.

It's got nothing to do with that. It's free for everybody. Contraception became free on the NHS in 1974. There is no system in place at NHS contraception clinics for billing the odd foreign visitor and the extra time and trouble would exceed the value of the dispensed items.

I think AOM just ran into a part of the system that isn't dealt with very well.  She was honest about being a visitor and being required to pay but the people she dealt with weren't aware or didn't care.  Just like when I registered at my first GP, I came prepared with visa in passport, but they weren't interested.  They registered me with no proof that I was entitled to register, in the full knowledge that I wasn't British.  (I don't know it for a fact, I thought my accent may have had something to do with it.)

It's not always carelessness or ignorance. Many NHS professionals routinely waive technically required minor fees and formalities for foreign visitors and others, because of what they believe that the NHS should be. I should know, I am married to one.

Like contrex, I am under the impression that contraception is free for everybody on the NHS, visitors and residents alike.  If that's the case, I'm actually not against that since the alternative is worse, IMO.

However, if overseas visitors are supposed to pay for contraception like they are supposed to do for any other non-emergency medicine/treatment, then I think it's annoying that the correct procedures weren't followed in this case.

It's not always carelessness or ignorance. Many NHS professionals routinely waive technically required minor fees and formalities for foreign visitors and others, because of what they believe that the NHS should be. I should know, I am married to one.

What?! Those 'technically required minor fees' add up! It is my understanding that the NHS was not created to provide the world with free health care! It was created to ensure the residents of the United Kingdom were provided free and equal access to healthcare. Not charging those who are ineligible to receive NHS benefits is not keeping the 'NHS' as it should be. It's increasing the costs for those who are actually eligible for the benefits, i.e. the recent increase in the cost for prescriptions. It is making treatments unavailable to those eligible for benefits because the NHS is unable to afford it.

Not charging those who are ineligible to receive NHS benefits is not keeping the 'NHS' as it should be. It's increasing the costs for those who are actually eligible for the benefits, i.e. the recent increase in the cost for prescriptions. It is making treatments unavailable to those eligible for benefits because the NHS is unable to afford it.

You are entitled to your opinion, but I can assure you that wasting £20 worth of admin time to bill for and collect and bank a fee for £5 worth of contraceptive tablets is not cost effective.

You are entitled to your opinion, but I can assure you that wasting £20 worth of admin time to bill for and collect and bank a fee for £5 worth of contraceptive tablets is not cost effective.

Surely if I have to pay for my prescription when I pick it up, a visitor who picks up their BC prescription can just as easily pay for this at the time. They quite happily collect my prescription fee!

Surely if I have to pay for my prescription when I pick it up, a visitor who picks up their BC prescription can just as easily pay for this at the time. They quite happily collect my prescription fee!

Agree. And there aren't too many services that wouldn't know how to cope with collecting fees, trust me. MAYBE physio or OT or maybe some cottage/community hospitals, but hospitals, pharmacies, optometrists, GPs... they are all more than capable and have systems in place for taking fees. I promise.