NHS coverage for returning UK citizen

Can someone settle this ongoing discussion I keep having with DH? 

Our son (aged 30) is a dual national born in the UK. He's lived the first half of his life in England so has an NHS number and was registered with our GP. But he's never worked in the UK so does not have the NIN.  My husband says he would have to work there for a full year before he would be eligible for the NHS.  I've seen the NHS page on "taking up or resuming residence in the UK" and it looks to me like primary care services would be at the discretion of the GP.

This is all hypothetical just now but just wondering if anyone has first hand experience of this situation.

I'm a UK-born dual national and I moved back to the UK in 2003. I had no trouble getting registered with a surgery and seeing a GP. Is that what you're asking? At the time, I'd never worked in the UK.

Exactly. Thanks.
[I win!]

You're welcome! (Winning is good.)

If they allow visa holders (of six months or more) to have NHS coverage from day one, how could they NOT let returning citizens have it?

If they allow visa holders (of six months or more) to have NHS coverage from day one, how could they NOT let returning citizens have it?

Yeah. DH thinks you have to show you've contributed through your earnings or something. Wondered if this was something new (?)

That would mean little kids, or mothers who never worked wouldn't be covered.

I know they want to actually know that the UK citizen has returned. 

So people who live in Spain shouldn't be able to jet back and use the doctor here.

I'm not sure if they are cracking down on this or not.

How they prove that you are living here is another situation. I know when I had to go to the hospital for tests every clerk asked if I had been in the UK for at least a year.

There was a big to-do a while back about 'health tourists' who had long since left the UK but found that medical treatment in the new 'home' was expensive, so were traveling back to the UK just for whatever under the NHS. That may be where the 'year' came in.

All we were asked was 'are you living here now?' -We said yes, and all was well.

We registered with a doc and dentist in the first couple of weeks after we returned, and less than a week later, I got a letter to come for a mammogram!

I had coverage from the start and came over as a new citizen (no NI number) Though its been a few years (2005) since I went through all that..

If he decides to move over, get to the JobCentre STAT to get that NI number!!!! The NHS may be the only thing hes entitled to before moving over.. Everything else requires him to be a resident for 3 years or more ('reduced' tuition, council housing, etc)

Hubby had no problems at all when he moved back in 2009 after being in the States nearly 5 years. He went back to his regular GP that he'd been with for years before moving. I don't know if that had anything to do with it.

I was able to see a GP before I'd even registered, or had a NI number. I called to see if it was possible, since I was hit hard with a severe sinus infection due to allergies and they saw me then scheduled the sign up/health history appointment. That was April of 2010, so unless things have changed drastically, I'd think a returning citizen should have no problem.

I had coverage from the start and came over as a new citizen (no NI number)

I was able to see a GP before I'd even registered, or had a NI number.

I think NI numbers are basically irrelevant when it comes to being able to use NHS healthcare... because British citizens are covered by the NHS from the day they are born, but they are not issued with an NI number until they are 16 years old (i.e. old enough to work full-time).

 Everything else requires him to be a resident for 3 years or more ('reduced' tuition, council housing, etc)

I knew about having to wait for the tuition (although the way it's going he'd probably do better to finish a degree here!) Anybody know about the OU -- do you have to be there for the 3 years to qualify for resident status?

Yes you do.  I had to wait to take a course through work.

Ahh. Thanks, bookgirl.

I think NI numbers are basically irrelevant when it comes to being able to use NHS healthcare... because British citizens are covered by the NHS from the day they are born, but they are not issued with an NI number until they are 16 years old (i.e. old enough to work full-time).

Yeah I went and got registered on the NHS within the first week or two of being here, then went for my NI number...