UK launches Global Health Insurance Card

  • UK’s new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) launched as part of UK / EU deal

  • Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) will gradually replace existing European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC)

UK residents will now be able to apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), the government announced today.

Under Britain’s new agreement with the EU, UK residents’ rights to emergency and medically necessary healthcare will continue when travelling in the EU. This includes medically necessary treatment for a pre-existing or chronic condition.

Current European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) are valid as long as they are in date and people can continue to use these when travelling to the EU.

The public only need to apply for their new GHIC when their current EHIC expires. Both cards will offer equivalent protection for emergency and medically necessary healthcare needs when in the EU on a temporary stay, which includes holiday, study and business travel.

The new GHIC card is free to obtain from the official GHIC website. People should apply at least 2 weeks before they plan to travel to ensure their card arrives on time.

Minister for Health Edward Argar said:

Our deal with the EU ensures the right for our citizens to access necessary healthcare on their holidays and travels to countries in the EU will continue.

The GHIC is a key element of the UK’s future relationship with the EU and will provide certainty and security for all UK residents.

Cover for emergency and medically necessary healthcare is part of a wider healthcare agreement struck with the EU that will see continued cooperation on healthcare for UK residents.

If a UK resident is travelling without a card, they are still entitled to necessary healthcare and should contact the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) (which covers the whole of the UK), who can arrange for payment should they require treatment when abroad.

EU member state EHICs will continue to be accepted by the NHS.

Alongside the deal with the EU, the UK is open to agreeing further reciprocal healthcare arrangements that can support UK residents when they travel.

The government always advises that anyone travelling overseas, whether to the EU or elsewhere in the world, should take out comprehensive travel insurance. 

Background information

All UK residents are eligible to apply for a GHIC which will be valid and recognised in the EU.

GHIC is free via the official website. Any sites which include a charging fee are in no way affiliated with the official NHSBSA GHIC service.

The government recognises sensitivities around flags in Northern Ireland. As such, residents in Northern Ireland will be provided with an option to choose an alternative version of the GHIC card, which they will be able to apply for shortly. Keep checking www.nhs.uk/GHIC for updates.

Under existing Common Travel Area arrangements with Ireland, UK residents will continue to be able to access necessary healthcare in Ireland by showing proof of residency documentation (such as a UK driving licence, a biometric residence permit, or a Northern Irish medical card) or EHIC or GHIC as used elsewhere in the EU.

The GHIC covers medically necessary state-provided healthcare at a reduced cost or, in many cases, free of charge, until your planned return home.

A temporary stay is a period during which you are staying in a place other than the one where you usually live and you do not move your ‘centre of interest’ there. For example, this can include holiday, study and business travel.

Necessary healthcare means healthcare that becomes medically necessary during your stay and for which you cannot reasonably wait until you’re back in the UK to get. This includes medically necessary treatment for a pre-existing or chronic condition. Some treatments will need to be pre-arranged with the relevant healthcare provider in the country you’re visiting, for example kidney dialysis or chemotherapy.

Necessary healthcare does not include healthcare that you travel specifically to receive, although individuals who want to seek planned treatment in a member state may be covered under the broader healthcare arrangements with the EU. Read more information on planned treatments.

If a UK resident requires emergency or medically necessary treatment while in the EU, and doesn’t have a GHIC or EHIC, a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) can be obtained which will provide the same coverage for healthcare as GHIC or EHIC. The PRC can only be requested at the point of requiring care; it’s not possible to request a PRC in advance of a trip. UK nationals can contact NHSBSA on +44 (0)191 218 1999 should a PRC be required.

UK nationals living in the EU, EEA and Switzerland and EU, EEA and Swiss nationals living in the UK, who are eligible under the Citizens’ Rights Agreement for reciprocal healthcare based on current EU regulations, can continue to apply for an EHIC.

The UK is seeking to conclude new, comprehensive agreements on social security coordination, including reciprocal healthcare, with the EEA EFTA States and with Switzerland.

Until a new agreement is in place, the UK and Norway will apply, on a temporary basis, an amended version of the 1991 Convention on Social Security and Protocol on Medical Treatment between the governments of the UK and Norway. This includes necessary healthcare.

The rest-of-the-world (RoW) countries we currently have reciprocal healthcare agreements with are Australia, New Zealand, some Crown Dependencies and overseas territories (such as Isle of Mann, Jersey, Gibraltar), and some Balkan states (Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo). Different proofs of eligibility are required under these agreement. Read more travel advice information.



Changes to Privacy Notices on Legal Aid Forms

News story

We have recently updated our legal aid application forms. This includes revised privacy notices to reflect recent updates to LAA systems and processes.

Image of note taking next to a laptop computer

Which forms are affected?

Changes have been made to all privacy notices on all legal aid forms across both criminal and civil legal aid.

Why do we have privacy notices?

Privacy notices set out certain standards which clients can expect from the Legal Aid Agency regarding their personal data.

Among the areas covered are:

  • Our requests for personal data and the way it is managed
  • How to obtain a copy of the personal data we hold
  • What to do if your client thinks standards are not being met

How has the privacy notice been changed?

Amendments to the privacy notices have been made to reflect updates to LAA systems and processes and to ensure out of date information is corrected or where necessary, removed.

The changes include:

  • Removal of references to data being sent to the USA
  • Amendment to the names of debt collection and credit checking agencies in compliance with new contracts
  • Addition of a paragraph referencing that the LAA will contract with external data processors for administrative and management purposes.
  • Amendment to the contact details for queries

Will old forms still be accepted?

Previous versions of the application forms will continue to be accepted until 31 March 2021, so providers have time to adjust.

However, please note that the previous contact details for submitting any queries are now obsolete. The LAA will not be able to deal with any queries and complaints received from clients who have attempted to use the old details.

Where possible, therefore, we would prefer you to use the new versions of the forms as soon as possible.

Show all clients updated privacy notices

Your clients need to be aware of the updated privacy notices. This is especially important if you are submitting the older version of the form.

It means directing your clients to the new privacy notices when you are collecting personal information.

These privacy notices are on the new forms and you can use the links at the end of this article to help you.

CCMS privacy notices

We are working on integrating privacy notices into the Client and Cost Management System (CCMS) which will be updated in due course.

Further information

Updated forms:

Controlled Work Application forms

Civil Legal Aid Application Forms

Criminal Legal Aid Application Forms

Published 11 January 2021



Inside GFSL: what it takes to maintain prison infrastructure

News story

Inside GFSL (Gov Facility Services Limited) is a short video explaining what it’s like doing maintenance work inside a prison.

The video features staff from HMP Bullingdon in Oxfordshire talking about everyday duties at the prison site as well as highlighting the very important safety protocols in place.

Inside GFSL

The staff also demonstrate the tools and equipment used to maintain the prison infrastructure as well as talk about why GFSL and particularly a prison site is a great place to work.

Site Manager Steve Brown explains:

Coming from a background of building services engineering, when I first came to the prison it felt quite daunting, but realising the prison was just a big building with training and the staff that we have inside to support us, just makes it a pleasant place to work in. Coming to the prison is probably one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.

Site Supervisor Jason Smith adds:

18 years ago when I started here, on my way to work I did feel nervous about my first day in my new role. On arrival and after a few days working here I found that it was a safe environment to work in. It wasn’t what my preconceptions had led me to believe. There is plenty of security protocol in place to keep us safe.

Locksmith and Carpenter Oscar Calusi says:

.We have fully equipped workshops with all the tools and equipment and if we need something they’ll order it in for us. The company’s very hot on safety so the equipment that’s in the workshops, you can only use with the proper training.

And Admininstration Officer Lauren Davies says:

.It’s a great work package, good holiday allowance and pension and there are lots of opportunities for training. Also it’s a really secure job which is really important to me especially in these uncertain times.

If you’re interested in working for GFSL please look at the Jobs page or send your CV to gfsl_recruitment@govfsl.com

Please note the video was filmed in late 2020 with full Covid-secure safety measures in place. We maintain Covid-secure measures on all our establishment sites.

Published 11 January 2021



Statement following NDNA Implementation Review Meeting

News story

Statement by the Secretary of State, Minister for Foreign Affairs and leaders of the Democratic Unionist Party, Sinn Féin, Social Democratic and Labour Party and the Alliance Party, following the NDNA Implementation Review Meeting.

The first Implementation Review Meeting of the New Decade, New Approach agreement was held today by video conference, with the participation of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Brandon Lewis CBE MP, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD, and the leaders of the parties to the Northern Ireland Executive.

On the anniversary of the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive, the participants discussed the progress that has been made over the past year by the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly and in the North/South Ministerial Council and the British Irish Council.

The participants also discussed the context of the unprecedented challenge for the entire Executive, as well as for the UK and Irish Governments, in responding to a global pandemic and both its public health and economic impacts. In light of these challenges, the participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to ensuring the sustainable and effective operation of all the devolved institutions to ensure that the interests of the people of Northern Ireland are served by their democratically elected leaders, and committed themselves to the ongoing implementation of the New Decade, New Approach agreement.

Published 11 January 2021



CCO commitment to confidentiality

News story

Retailer CCO commitment to give suppliers more confidence that their issues will remain confidential.

Retailers’ Code Compliance Officers have formally confirmed to the Groceries Code Adjudicator that they will treat any discussions with suppliers in the strictest of confidence.

The CCOs have also agreed that it will be up to the supplier to determine whether they can disclose any details about the subject matter of their Code-related discussion within their designated.

GCA Mark White said: “In practice this is how CCOs have operated, maintaining confidentiality in discussions. But the problem is that nowhere has this been clearly stated and many suppliers have been unclear about the position.

“I asked all the retailers to make a formal commitment to confidentiality so that I could publish it on my website and dispel any concerns of suppliers that directly raising an issue with a retailer might lead to retaliation.”

Published 11 January 2021