WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN THE UK

Registration with a doctor

If you are planning to stay in the UK for good – or for an extended period – and wish to be treated on the NHS you need to register with a general practitioner. It is just a matter of finding one who is prepared to take you on and signing a form. The local Family Practitioners’ Committee will then get in touch with you and issue you with a medical card. If you can remember your old NHS number, the process can be speeded up.

Should you have problems in finding a doctor who will take you on his or her list, consult the Family Practitioners’ Committee listed in the local telephone directory.

If your stay is going to be a short one (a matter of months) you will be eligible for emergency treatment provided there is a social security treaty with the country you have just come from. You need not register with a doctor, but if you need to consult one you will be required to fill in a special form.

Accommodation in the UK

Ideally you need to plan this matter well in advance. This is particularly true if you have property in the UK which is rented out, and you need to give your tenants notice. Unfortunately in such an instance you cannot always rely on your house being vacant when you want it: I know of instances where a court order had to be issued in order to remove tenants.

If you have no residence in the UK you have a choice:

• Stay with friends and relations. Normally this would be a temporary expedient until something else turns up.
• Find rented accommodation. The best place to look is in local newspapers or contact a letting agent. If this is a temporary expedient you could rent a holiday home. These are often available at cheap rates during the off-season. Among the companies specialising in this field is English Country Cottages.
• Purchase a new home. This is usually a lengthy undertaking unless you have already set things in motion while you were abroad, and you may not be able to move in immediately. There may also be problems in financing the purchase if you have not yet sold your property abroad. Banks and building societies are often reluctant to offer mortgages backed by foreign assets, but you could explore ways of raising the finance with a mortgage broker.
• If you feel you are going to need some form of sheltered accommodation there are a number of sources of information. Saga, for instance publishes a register of purpose-built retirement housing, and the bi-monthly magazine Retirement Homes & Finance has an index of current retirement property developments.
• Enter a residential home. Rest homes and nursing homes are a more expensive option (currently between £480 and £600 per week). Local authorities can provide a list of homes in their particular areas, Age Concern publishes a fact sheet on residential homes, and independent advisers, such as Grace Consulting, can suggest homes that will match your requirements.

Your will

This will need to be altered to reflect changed circumstances. If you do not intend to return to the country where you have been living you will need to investigate what action is necessary with respect to your foreign will.

Financial matters

It is advisable to see your financial adviser as early as possible to review your financial strategy, particularly in the light of your changed tax circumstances. Insurances may also need to be reviewed.

Reverse culture shock

This is a problem a number of expatriates face when they arrive back on British shores, particularly those who have been living in a milder climate. You may miss the sunshine, the warmth, the inexpensive booze, the camaraderie, the relaxed lifestyle.

For a little while you will feel like a fish out of water, and it will take time to adapt. The Britain you knew might have changed out of all recognition. People’s tastes and behaviour may also have changed, and this can sometimes give rise to irritation.

However, things will come right in time. Take care of your health and keep active, and if everyone you used to know seems to have moved on, join a few clubs and make new friends just as you did when you first settled abroad.