A BRITISH couple have been hit with a whopping £40,000 NHS bill after their son was born prematurely – because they now live abroad.
Paul Barnes, 33, and pregnant fiancée Sophie Henley, 25, were on holiday in the UK visiting family and friends when complications led to son Archie being delivered seven weeks early by emergency c-section.
Archie weighed just 3lbs and has been kept in an intensive care incubator since January 23 suffering from breathing problems.
His parents were gobsmacked when hospital bean counters presented them with a bill for £40,000 for the birth op and treatment up until last Thursday.
Paul is originally from Launceston, Devon, but moved to Zambia 10 years ago to run a safari lodge.
He met Sophie, who is originally from Nottingham, four-years-ago when she visited for work and the pair got together and she moved there to join him.
The pair are both British citizens – and have paid years of tax and NI contributions – but because they are no longer residents, they don’t qualify for free NHS treatment.
Paul said: “It’s a complete nightmare. There is no way we can afford a bill that big.
“It was a real shock when the hospital said they had to charge us time and a half because we were from a non-European Economic Area country.”
Paul added they “never renounced” their British citizenship and are on permits in Zambia.
But he said he knew he would not be eligible for free NHS treatment after checking with the British High Commissioner in Zambia.
The couple planned to fly home to Zambia on February 5 – a month before Sophie’s due date of March 13 – and they were given a “fit to fly” note by doctors. But they were forced to go into hospital in Barnstaple, north Devon, when they noticed the baby started moving less.
They were given tests, which cost £500, and were sent to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in Exeter where Sophie was immediately given an emergency caesarean.
The couple are now asking for donations to help pay off their bill.
A Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust spokeswoman said: “While we are unable to comment on individual cases, our prime concern is to look after the patients in our care and help them, or their carers, to understand any rules or regulations that may apply to their treatment while they are with us.
“Department of Health regulations state that we are legally obliged to apply appropriate charges for overseas visitors. These charges are determined by residency and those eligible for free treatment need to be living in the UK voluntarily and for settled purposes.
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A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “Eligibility isn’t based on nationality.
“UK citizens who live outside the European Economic Area will need health insurance when visiting the UK.”
A JustGiving fund had last night reached £3,885.
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