I'm a temporary resident of 3 years, I go home 2-3 times a year to visit my family and have been to my old GP several times, he kept me 'on the books' as I go back so often. I don't get charged for seeing him and up until last year, paid for my prescriptions
Last summer I had a sore wrist, which got progressively worse, I have rheumatoid arthritis and initially put it down to driving a lot. The week before I came home my wrist was swollen red and very painful, I contacted my old RA nurse to ask for a steroid injection to tide me over 'till I got back, she arranged an appointment to see my old rheumatologist. He injected my wrist with steroid and analgesic, I flew back the next day, unfortunately the injection didn't hit the spot and I had an awful journey home.
I was admitted to hospital 2 days later.
A few weeks later I got a msg from a friend who works in finance at the hospital I attended, (I used to work there) to say she'd seen an invoice with my name on it, it was for £597. 25
I have an NHS pension and pay tax in the UK but because I'm not an Australian citizen I have to pay this bill.
If I'd presented in A/E my treatment would have been free.