“Mr Roe has 'prepaid' for his treatment as a retiree. Also if he can show that he has previously lived in UK for 10 years he is entitled to treatment. However, to stop any problems ensure you retire to a country with a 'reciprocal agreement' with the UK or another member of the EC.”

“If Mr Roe prefers Thailand to England, then let him have his tratment there. If the country isnt good enough to live in then it isnt good enough to treat him. Look after the people who still have some faith in the country. There are too many expats think we owe them a living.”

“Like mr Row my husband worked all his life never one day was he out of work .he did 22 yrs in the army and after demob british rail and post office .27 years in cayman now retired he still paid his national insurance to make sure he got his pension .its so little we can hardley put food on the table.and to make it worst they still tax his bit of army pension and calls it unearned incom.after 22 yrs ishould think he darned well earned every bit of it .some time ago we came home and had to go to the clinic and was told the same thing .mr row should fight this all the way to downing st.its distgusting that people can be treated in this manner when they have paid there fair dues .some people like us go to the sun for health reasons but that shoulden nake us out cast from our own country.every tom dick and harry comes into u.k gets all sorts of benifits but those who has put there whole life into it cant get any benifits like a DR check?Com on be fair to your people first”

“Imagine paying insurance for over forty years in case you were sick and then when you were sick your told you cant claim thats whats happening here. As others point out there are people who have never worked or paid a stamp that get free medical and medicine. Those people that think this ruling is ok I presume have never paid as much into the system as this man they should get real! If this is going to be the case in future then anyone who desires to retire to the sun eventualy should be able to opt out of paying for the very reason they will not get what they are paying for.”

“Disgusting, I just wonder who is taking care of the taxes & contributions that Mr Roe has paid, are they are being given away ?”

“Whilst attending a wedding in Braunton this week, I picked up the local journal and read this story.
Surely if Gerald has paid the UK taxes and National Insurance contributions all his working life from 18 to 65 years of age or retirement, then surely he is allowed FREE treatment in the UK !irrespective of where he lives.
He still has a British passport and owns property in the UK.
It should be a a case of citzenship and NOT residency.
It would be correct for him to be charged for treatment in Thailand, where presumeably he has not paid into any system of welfare aid.
He is obviously receiving his Old Age Pension from the UK, irrespective of residency, which again he will have paid for as listed above.
I have been working now for 46 years, man and boy without a break and intend to carry on to aged 65 years in full time work.
I am aware that other people are not so fortunate to have employment at the present time, through no fault of their own.
ANYONE WHO HAS PAID SOMETHING INTO THE SYSTEM OF UK TAXES, SHOULD RECEIVE FEEE TREATMENT IN THE UK.
We are a welfare state and anyone is entitled to FREE treatment, even if they have never worked.
SO GERALD HAS MY VOTE.”

“....yes but we can give free healthcare to every Tom, Dick and Harry that enters this country illegally and contribute to nothing.......free housing, schooling, healthcare.....I think maybeMr Roes DID have the right idea moving abroad....”

“He has to pay £50 - big deal. His flight to Thailand will cost far more. If every Tom Dick and Harry that had moved abroad to America or Europe came back for free health care every time they needed it the country would be even more in debt than now. Live in Thailand and take their health service as it is or pay elsewhere.”

“OK so he is living in another country, but only for 3yrs, before that I am sure he paid plenty of tax, and I am damn sure he still does from his business that is still here making money for the tax man to waste on MP's frivillaous expenses.

He should be well entitiled to the treatment at the taxmans expense. This is absolutely disgusting and he should appeal the decision. Not as if he is freeloading, he has, and still continues to pay dues to the taxman, this is not a trivial matter like having his lawn cut or his home refurbished before selling and raking in the profit at the taxpayers expense, it is something every human deserves and more so to him for the tax he gives back to the UK.”

“I totally agree with the decision. He has chosen to live in another country so why should he get free treatment when he visits back here, If he doesnt like the level of service in Thailand, then perhaps he should move!!”