NHS coverage

I and my husband are from India.

My husband has a Tier-1 Visa and he will be travelling to UK in May. And I have Tier-1 dependant visa and I will be arriving in July.

We are planning for a child and I would like to know if the cost during pregnancy (general check-ups etc.,) and the costs of delivery are covered in NHS while I am in the UK in both the below cases:

1. I get pregnant before I travel to UK (planning to travel to UK in May)
2. I get pregnant while I am in UK

Any inputs are highly appreciated as I couldn’t find the right information properly.

Are you guys registered with your local NHS GP ?

krazydude wrote:Are you guys registered with your local NHS GP ?

We are currently in India and travelling in May-July 2011. So should we register in local NHS once we reach there?

You can only access NHS services (apart from emergency services) if you are a registered to receive them. If you do not register, you do not have access to those services.

prangara wrote:I and my husband are from India.

My husband has a Tier-1 Visa and he will be travelling to UK in May. And I have Tier-1 dependant visa and I will be arriving in July.

We are planning for a child and I would like to know if the cost during pregnancy (general check-ups etc.,) and the costs of delivery are covered in NHS while I am in the UK in both the below cases:

1. I get pregnant before I travel to UK (planning to travel to UK in May)
2. I get pregnant while I am in UK

Any inputs are highly appreciated as I couldn’t find the right information properly.

To answer your query and quell the anxiety - all medical expenses for a pregnant mother will be covered by the NHS provided you are registered with a local GP.
The reason you need to register is merely to monitor your health, call for regular checkups, keep a chart of how you are progressing, what medications you are on, what allergies you have etc etc etc - very similar to how your family doc would have helped back home. They need to maintain your medical history during the entire pregnancy and then during delivery. They will also sort out the hospital, mid wife, additional care required etc - which is why the NHS is very good and worth the taxes we pay

Registering is a simple procedure - just walk in to your local GP with your passport and they will get it done. Once pregnant, report/meet with the GP and from thereon everything will be managed for you.

On another note,
1. There is something called Accident&Emergency units or A&Es and these are meant for urgent,sudden, life threatening or accident cases. You dont need to be registered to use them - but you use them ONLY in exceptional cases

2. So what about those who are not registered or dont have an emergency you may ask. Well there are NHS Walk In centres in every city/town where people who have not YET registered (or even if registered) with a GP can just walk in and get an appointment on that day to see a doctor. This is good to know especially when you just arrive here as it may take some time for you guys to setup and find the time to go to your local GP and register. Until then, if you want to see a doctor for any reason, just go to your local NHS Walk in centre - thats all

Hope this helps
KP

Many thanks to kenfrapin for the detailed reply and really appreciate.

Hi I came to UK on Tier-2 intra company transfer last month. My wife is going to join me after couple of months and she is pregnant. Is she get full coverage under NHS? I registered with local hospital for me. As and when she comes here I will register for her too. If she gives a birth to baby through Sigerian operation, the expenses will be covered by NHS or myself?

Welcome your suggetions...

Thanks,
ST.