English couple who retired abroad shocked after NHS refuse free cancer treatment
The elderly couple were not aware of the NHS's strict rules on residency
A retired British couple who live abroad have revealed that they were refused cancer treatment by the NHS due to them no longer living in the UK.
Back in 2024, Michael and Kim West sold their house and moved to San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua, a country in Central America, following their retirement, splashing out £230,000 on building their ideal home, which was completed in July this year.
Three months later though, Michael, a former army engineer, was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma, which affects bone marrow.
The NHS explain that Multiple Myeloma is when your bone marrow makes plasma cells which do not work properly, causing issues in the kidneys and immune system, among other parts of the body.
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But going home for treatment wouldn't be as simple as the couple imagined.
Kim, a former equestrian, explained that she wasn't aware they could no longer use the NHS due to the fact that they didn't have a house in the UK, leaving them no choice but to accumulate the funds for her husband's treatment.
The Brit's cancer is now affecting his kidneys, with costs needed to cover several cancer medications and six blood transfusions.
It's put a spanner in the couple's retirement plans, as they had enough to build the house, live comfortably and afford healthcare for normal circumstances.
Now, the 'aggressive' form of cancer is costing more than they had planned to spend, as Michael's condition has set the couple back £64,000 so far, with Kim, 68, setting up a fundraising page to get more funds.
According to the NHS website, those moving abroad permanently are 'no longer automatically entitled to medical treatment in the UK', as Kim, from Dover, recalled collecting their pensions and selling their British home before moving overseas.
In a situation which she said has been 'horrible to watch', she explained: "This is an aggressive cancer that can be treated, but it takes a lot of money. His kidneys joined in on the act because Multiple Myeloma attacks the kidneys and stops them from filtering properly.
"Once we get the cancer under control the kidneys will improve. It's just eating away all of our savings."
Despite the extortionate medical bills, Kim said that 'the healthcare here is better than anywhere in the UK', as the day after he was left 'crying with pain', he was looked at and booked in for a bone marrow test to prove it was Multiple Myeloma.
She said she's been asked about why they haven't gone back to the UK, adding: "I was born and bred in Britain, I'm as English as they come, so is Michael. We didn't realise we can't access the NHS except for emergencies because we don't have a house there."
Michael, 69, noticed his symptoms following rapid weight loss and pain in his bones and ribs, with Kim revealing that he requires medication costing $4,300 (£3,275) per treatment, while also needing $600 (£450) a week for dialysis.
"He's ill but he is ill in a beautiful place. It's safer here than anywhere I've ever been my whole life," she insisted, saying he can 'just about walk', though he could barely walk after 10 days in intensive care previously.
Speaking about the diagnosis, Michael said: "It was a big shock. The pain I had in my bones, chest and pelvis was really painful so that's why we rushed to hospital,
"They confirmed it the next day and we were in the hospital for two weeks I'm not feeling good at all, the bone pain is really bad and my mouth is very sore."
He said that he will be seeing the pain management team, who must be careful with their medication as 'some painkillers can affect the kidneys'.
You can donate to Kim's GoFundMe for Michael's treatment here.
LADbible has contacted NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care for comment.
Joshua Nair