From today Ukrainians fleeing their home country will be
guaranteed free access to NHS healthcare, including hospital
services, GP and nurse consultations, urgent care centres and
injury units.
As part of the UK’s offer to those Ukrainians coming to the UK,
we have committed to providing full access to a range of public
services, including doctors, schools and full local authority
support. They will also be offered Covid vaccines and medical
screenings. The new legislative measures introduced today will
ensure Ukrainians who are in the UK lawfully can access the NHS
on a similar basis as other UK residents.
Those benefitting will include any Ukrainian who:
- uses an alternative temporary visa route outside of the
family or sponsorship routes;
- is on a family or sponsored route to England
- chooses to extend their visit or seasonal worker visa
temporarily, without going through the Immigration Health
Surcharge system; or
- is in the process of switching visas
The changes, made in regulations laid today, cover any NHS
treatment that started on or after 24 February 2022, the date the
full-scale Russian invasion began, providing support to as many
people as possible.
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
“It’s our moral duty to ensure any Ukrainian arriving in England,
after being forced out of their home country by the Russian
invasion is able to access the healthcare they might need,
without worrying about the cost.
“We have acted swiftly to provide substantial humanitarian aid to
Ukraine, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with our international
partners. Those in need of care will be treated by our incredible
NHS staff as we welcome them to this country.”
Home Secretary said:
“The people of Ukraine are facing unimaginable suffering and
trauma at the hands of Putin’s barbaric regime. We are providing
a safe haven for some of those people and as soon as they arrive
in England they will be able to access the support they need,
including healthcare, education, benefits and the right to work –
helping to provide some stability at a difficult time.”
These changes form part of the government’s wider humanitarian
response to the Ukraine crisis. The UK government has now
delivered more than 1.8 million medical items, including wound
care packs, equipment for intensive care and vital medicines.
On Monday, 21 Ukrainian children with cancer were evacuated to
England and have since been triaged at seven NHS hospitals where
they are receiving lifesaving treatment.
More than 6,100 visas have been granted through the Ukraine
Family Scheme and, for those with valid Ukrainian passports, the
government has removed the need to attend an in-person
appointment to conduct biometric checks before travelling to the
UK.
Since Monday, people in the UK have been able to register their
interest to sponsor a named Ukrainian under the Homes for Ukraine
scheme, with more than 150,000 people registering.
The government has provided £400 million in humanitarian and
economic aid to Ukraine and neighbouring countries, along with
defensive anti-tank and anti-aircraft weaponry.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
- The exemption regulations are due to be reviewed in six
months.
- Details on the NHS migrant charging policy can be found here:
NHS entitlements:
migrant health guide.
- Ukrainian residents in the UK unlawfully are not covered by
these measures. The government is clear however that urgent
treatment will not be withheld – even when the visitor has
indicated that they cannot pay.
- Free healthcare for those accompanying people medically
evacuated to the UK for treatment will be limited to needs which
arise during their stay - pre-existing conditions that worsen and
those which develop in the UK.
