What the hell is wrong with the UK?
What the hell is wrong with the UK?
A Commonwealth-born veteran, who served for more than a decade in the British army including tours of Afghanistan and Iraq, has been told he must pay more than £27,000 for NHS hospital bills after an emergency operation to remove a brain tumour.Hospital staff have classified Taitusi Ratucaucau, 49, as an overseas patient, and therefore ineligible for free NHS care. He joined the British army in 2001 and has been continuously in the UK since being discharged from the military in 2011, living here with his wife and three daughters, and paying tax and national insurance.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding ... EHW_LwXZgw
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding ... EHW_LwXZgw
Web Designer / Developer. Currently working on Paphos Life.
Living in Polemi, Cyprus with my wife and daughter.
Living in Polemi, Cyprus with my wife and daughter.
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
This is scandalous, and should be totally wrong with the information given ...
Trev..
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
Just more evidence that the Home Office under Priti Patel, Amber Rudd, Sajid Javed and Teresa May is/was not fit for purpose.
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
That is disgraceful. If he is able to fight for Britain then he should receive free treatment. I hope this disgusting decision is overturned, and soon.
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
If you read the BBC article (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52818867) it appears that he knew the rules and had declined to pay the fees involved.
It reads - He left in 2011 thinking he had a right to remain in the country that is now also home to his wife and three children.
But it would cost him almost £10,000 to apply for his family to be granted Indefinite Leave to Remain. It is another bill he says he cannot afford. - in the article.
His QC also says - Mr Metzer says the fact that his clients have "no settled status here at all, feeds a real sense of uncertainty and deep injustice".
So he was fully aware of the circrumstances about staying/living in the UK and it could be said he wasn't prepared to pay for the pleasure of living there.
Sorry sounds harsh but he knew the rules.
It reads - He left in 2011 thinking he had a right to remain in the country that is now also home to his wife and three children.
But it would cost him almost £10,000 to apply for his family to be granted Indefinite Leave to Remain. It is another bill he says he cannot afford. - in the article.
His QC also says - Mr Metzer says the fact that his clients have "no settled status here at all, feeds a real sense of uncertainty and deep injustice".
So he was fully aware of the circrumstances about staying/living in the UK and it could be said he wasn't prepared to pay for the pleasure of living there.
Sorry sounds harsh but he knew the rules.
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
He had no need to worry he will have the charges squashed and get permission to stay here,,,inevitable.
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
For many years while my husband was working and living In Hong Kong, we were denied any access to the NHS, even though he had previously served in the RAF. This despite the fact that he continued to pay Class3 (voluntary) National Insurance payments.
Dee
Dee
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
Also paid Class 3 voluntary NI payments while overseas for many years and understood it was purely for payment towards the UK state pension. Thank goodness we did pay as it entitled us to a full state pension when the time came.
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?Q
Yes it did for us, us too. But I think it was still less than we would have got if my husband had been paying Class 1 for his whole working life.
Dee
Dee
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
10 years service in the British army and a complicated process costing £10,000 to apply. Personally I think it’s a disgrace. ANYONE who puts their life directly on the line for the country should have an automatic right to remain at no cost and with help to make the application. Or are we operating some kind of paid mercenary system?
Jeanne
Jeanne
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
Can't believe some people are actually trying to defend this nonsense.
Web Designer / Developer. Currently working on Paphos Life.
Living in Polemi, Cyprus with my wife and daughter.
Living in Polemi, Cyprus with my wife and daughter.
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
Sorry, Dominic. To which nonsense are people trying to defend? To those who think the guy should be paid, to those who think the guy should not be paid or those who are crowdfunding the guy?
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
If you cannot tell that from the opening post then there isn't much hope for you.
Web Designer / Developer. Currently working on Paphos Life.
Living in Polemi, Cyprus with my wife and daughter.
Living in Polemi, Cyprus with my wife and daughter.
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
Dominic, I'm afraid the UK has always treated ex- servicemen badly. The soldiers who served for years in the Gurhka Regiments were also very badly treated. Once they finished their years of service they were sent back to Nepal again with their families with little or no pensions or anything.
Even now many ex-servicemen who served in the forces in Iraq and Afghanistan when they are de mobbed are semi abandoned and if they can't find employment they end up sleeping rough.
I think all this is appalling and much more should be done for these people whether they are British or from another country.
Dee
Even now many ex-servicemen who served in the forces in Iraq and Afghanistan when they are de mobbed are semi abandoned and if they can't find employment they end up sleeping rough.
I think all this is appalling and much more should be done for these people whether they are British or from another country.
Dee
Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
How am I supposed to know that you haven't changed your mind between the first post and mine?
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Re: What the hell is wrong with the UK?
I recall a few years ago during a WWII commemoration, John Major discovered that Gurkha VC holders were paid a significantly reduced award for their gallantry. This was corrected very quickly and rightly so.
Ticking away, the moments that make up a dull day.