Paphos People

A question for all really

If you live here permanently, yellow slip , etc can you still get your uk medications through a uk GP?

I ask this question because I am in a debate about this

I am of the belief from uk government websites and chats to uk government offices
That if you move out of the uk to go to live in another country permanently...then you have to cancel your uk GP and of course therefore your prescriptions ....as you need a uk GP in order to be prescribed prescriptions from...so therefore you no longer qualify either for a uk GP or uk prescriptions ...and that these uk prescriptions cannot then be got and be sent over to another country by postal services or belong to the uk NHS

The S 1 form allows you to have care in the country where you have moved to and the uk government picks up that cost

Are Ex servicemen/women living in another country permanently exempt from these basic rules!

Are they allowed to get their uk prescription medicines no matter where they live in the world?

Looking forwards to some clarification

Here’s all
Stay safe

Hi Migmogs.

In a nutshell NO you cannot, prior to this Pandemic I was due to come back, I spoke to my GP about the same problem, they said no I cannot and gave me several reasons why, too many to mention on here.

That said depending where you look on the internet you will get more confused, there are 2 sites that might help you.

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/health ... ealthcare/

Also here is a link to the government site about health care in Cyprus for Expats

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare-in-cyprus

If you are in doubt why not ask Peyia medical centre or whatever it is called now.

Hope this helps

Hi Low voltage

I know the answer ...you cannot get prescription medicines sent here, you don,t have a GP when you leave the uk

But you will be amazed how many expats are doing just that

I was appalled

One ex serviceman actually told me that ex servicemen are exempt from the uk NHS laws! And that he was within ex servicemen's rights to have his NHS prescription meds sent here
And to be honest I was unsure on his answer ...and wondered if you would know or another ex serviceman ....so thank you

Basically there are lots of people that are all living here in Cyprus .... they have not told their gp,s that they have moved ...so are still in their gp,s list ....or the uk government that they have moved to a different country ...and they are getting their meds on Repeat prescriptions

Sorry but makes my blood boil ...I was shocked at the numbers in all age groups abusing the NHS

Like you ...we where also told in detail the rules when moving here by our then uk GP

From the UK NHS site
If you're moving abroad on a permanent basis, you'll no longer automatically be entitled to medical treatment under normal NHS rules. This is because the NHS is a residence-based healthcare system.
You'll have to notify your GP practice so you and your family can be removed from the NHS register.
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/moving-abroad/planning-your-healthcare/

Repeat UK prescriptions can only be sent to your UK address or your UK local pharmacy.
If 'ex=pats' are still getting repeat prescriptions, they must be getting family or friends to send it.
The GP's surgery is also at fault since generally, a patient is required to attend the surgery at least once every year to ensure the medication is still the correct one for their condition.

As a ‘veteran’ I can confirm that there are NO exemptions to the UK NHS rules for prescriptions.
I require some medication that is not available in Cyprus (not even an alternative) and need to get a ‘private prescription’ from Dr Molly. This I then send to UK on-line pharmacies who deliver here. (The crazy thing is the medication is manufactured in LIMASSOL but not available here)
The ONLY ‘ex-service’ NHS exemption is that a Veterans LIVING in the UK are entitled to priority NHS services for ‘military’ related medical conditions

This is also interesting
Veterans Benefits abroad
If you are a veteran living abroad, or you are serving in the Armed Forces abroad, you and your dependants may still be able to claim some benefits in the UK. You may be able to claim:

Maternity Allowance
Child Benefit
Employment and Support Allowance
Jobseekers Allowance (in certain European Union countries only)

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/armed-forces-and-veterans/benefits-and-concessions-for-the-armed-forces-veterans-and-their-families/

_________________
Dave
Moira And Dave

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”

When we moved to Cyprus in 2007 we of course advised our GP and were then totally reliant on the Cypriot healthcare albeit we had free healthcare as soon as I was 60 pre GESYof course.
When we returned to the UK in 2017 we had no problems whatsoever in getting back on a Dr's panel and all our NHS history was still on file.
With regards to prescriptions we order.on line with our GP every month but have regular 6 monthly reviews although this has slipped a bit due to covid.
It makes me so angry when people living in Cyprus constantly bash the UK but are the very ones to abuse the system! - I stress not all of course!!

Last year I was without a very important medication....they had stopped having that medication shipped here in Cyprus..it was a very worrying time for me...as I have to take it daily, so I eventually shopped online at an online uk pharmacy...think it was Simply Meds ....they do an online questionnaire relating to the medication required that a dr reviews and then if okay the chemist dispenses at full cost prices...I had those medicines then sent to me here through RSS. I paid full price and not NHS prices....I explained to the on line chemists ...where I lived ...Cyprus etc etc So you can have meds sent here to Cyprus that are bought online

Which us good to know if this ever happens again. Good news after 16 months my medication is now back in stock here...result!

I am saddened that so many are living here permanently and openly still using the uk NHs for their prescriptions. They wrote about it freely. Their families pick up their prescriptions from their local chemists and post over to here using various couriers. I have no idea how they are getting their repeat prescriptions carried on! Are things telephone reviewed these days? Who knows

The veteran is most up in arms at me saying that he and other veterans have special dispensation....hence my question here. So thank you for clearing up the veterans claims.

I have so much respect for all veterans you have all done amazing jobs for our societies
I have lots of family and friends who are veterans who I thank for all of their courage in looking after our world

Think that I might have rattled a few feathers with my posts on that face book forum

Especially when I asked very sarcastically ....would those who are cheating the NHS by continuing to have their prescription meds sent here... be queuing up for their covid vaccines that are in short demand here in Cyprus ...or are they having their vaccines posted over to here as well

Oooops! Oh well

Have a great day all!
Stay safe

We were told that until we transferred to the Cyprus system we were still entitled to the UK NHS Benefits etc

What year was that?

_________________
Dave
Moira And Dave

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”

2008

Joe can't help herself

There it goes again

?????????

_________________
Dave
Moira And Dave

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”

In 2008 we enquired in the UK about transferring to the Cypriot system we were told that if we did it would take considerable time to re register if we returned to the UK.