Healthcare
Many live-aboard boaters are “continuous cruisers” (boater without a home mooring). Although their boats are, of course, their homes, such boaters are classified as being “of no fixed abode”. Although this should not be an issue, it often does result in problems accessing health care.
Except in an emergency, when obviously you would go straight to Accident and Emergency (A&E), in order to access health care, you need to be registered with a GP. Although you have a legal right to register with a GP where you are, some are less accommodating than others.
Before you try to register, it is worth contacting the GP practice to explain that you are “of no fixed abode”, or living or staying temporarily in the vicinity of their practice. You are entitled to register in the area where you are, without ‘proof of address’.
You can register with any GP in your local area, as long as they have space for new patients.
Some GP surgeries will let you register using their address, which is not only perfectly acceptable, it is also very sensible and practical. Others will try to insist that you provide the address where you are. In that case, it should be possible to register using your boat location, although finding the correct postcode may prove more of a challenge.
There is an NHS leaflet which explains your healthcare nicely and also provides information for the GP. Download a copy here. Note, this document is in the form of a PDF, which you may find is not an acccessible format to you. If so, either contact the NHS to insist on an accessible format, or please contact us at the AWA, and we will send you a copy in Word format.
The same rules apply to dental healthcare. However, it can actually be a challenge to find a dentist anywhere who is taking on new NHS patients. Once you find one, registering with them shouldn’t be an issue.
The Accessible Waterways Association is campaigning for the right to access Healthcare. We will also do what we can to assist any boater who is struggling to access the health care to which they are entitled.
On a Low Income?
You may be entitled to free prescriptions, optician appointments, glasses, dental care and more. You can use the NHS checker to see if you are eligible.
National Health Service?
Despite being a National Heath Service, continuous cruisers can have issues accessing healthcare.
The BMA website states:
The main principle is that anyone, regardless of nationality and residential status, may register and consult with a GP without charge.
… and …
There is no contractual duty to seek evidence of identity, immigration status or proof of address. Practices should not refuse registration on the grounds that a patient is unable to produce such evidence.
This quite clearly states that that no GP surgery can or should refuse to register a nomadic boater, without an address in the area, for healthcare.
The NHS website states:
Anyone in England can register with a GP surgery. It’s free to register.
You do not need proof of address or immigration status, ID or an NHS number.
Note:
No, you do not need ID, an NHS number or proof of address to register.
Some GP surgeries ask for supporting documentation as it can:
- help the surgery find your medical records or transfer them from your current GP
- confirm that you live in the surgery’s area (or “practice boundary”) if they do not accept patients from outside this area
If you do not have a permanent address you can still register using a temporary address or the address of the GP surgery.
Also:
You can register as a temporary resident with a GP surgery for up to 3 months. This can be helpful if you’re living away from home but do not want to change your home GP surgery.
To register you’ll need to fill out a temporary services form (GMS3), available from GP surgeries.
After 3 months, you’ll have to reapply to register as a temporary resident or become a permanent patient.
You may also be able to register as a temporary resident if you are visiting from abroad.
If your application is refused, you can still receive any treatment you need immediately for up to 14 days.
The Healthwatch website also makes it clear:
NHS guidelines state that you don’t need proof of address, immigration status, ID or an NHS number to register with a GP. However, some GP surgeries ask for supporting documentation. They might have a few reasons to do this:
- It can help the surgery find your medical records or transfer them from another practice.
- It confirms that you live in the surgery’s practice area if they do not accept patients from outside this area.
If you don’t have a permanent address, you can still register using a temporary address or the address of the GP surgery.
There is a Boater Healthcare Project called Navigating the System, which provides a useful and interesting insight into the Healthcare issues that boaters can experience.