UK Parliament: Q&A On NHS Services & Access
During a British Parliament session, Minister Karin Smyth confirmed that citizens of British Overseas Territories can access NHS services for free in the UK if they are deemed ordinarily resident.
During the British Parliament session on December 5th, Shadow Parliamentary Under Secretary for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Andrew Rosindell asked, “To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2025 to Question 86606, what steps he has taken to ensure that citizens of British Overseas Territories have access to NHS services whilst resident in the UK.”
In response, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Karin Smyth said, “National Health Service care is provided free at the point of use to people who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. Being ordinarily resident broadly means living in the UK on a lawful and properly settled basis. People who are not considered ordinarily resident in the UK are required to pay for healthcare in England unless an exemption applies.
“If citizens of British Overseas Territories are assessed as being ordinarily resident in the UK, they are able to access NHS care free at the point of use.”
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