expats returning to UK not entitled to NHS free care ?

Someone trying to wind you up pal if you come from outer space you would be treated that’s why NHS is in such a state.

Thanks Ray , but the guy did say he had read this recently and that it was a new rule , and also I had a small  operation in UK just a few months ago and the hospital had one of those check- in screens , one of the questions asked was '' have you lived outside of the UK for more than 6 months ,  press yes or no ''  so I am wondering now if what he said could be true

My understanding ... I think this depends on your tax status. If you have Spanish residence and pay income tax in Spain, you have effectively opted out of the UK system. 

So if you opt back in to the UK system, there will be a delay before you regain entitlements. I thought that the delay is a year. 

But ... they might not check

Thanks for your reply Kelvin , I need to find out for sure -  I need an operation and the situation is complicated

I am sure if you hold British Passport and you have NI Number no matter how long you have lived outside UK you are entitled to health and benefits.a lot of my family work in hospitals the questions are for information data only.

Yes I have UK passport and  NI number , born and lived in UK all my life , but if I get Spanish residency soon and have to wait a long time for the operation ( which is an unknown at the moment )  it will be very detrimental to my health , and I would be better off to go back to cold England which I really don't want to do , but will if it's going to be a life-saver ......... but if this new rule exists ........

that's why I need to know -  Its complicated

A comment from someone better informed than me ...

"If you get an S1 from DWP and go along to INSS in Spain and register with them, they send details back to DWP, and they then take you out of the NHS system.

Until you do that, irrespective of how and where you manage your health provision, you stay in the NHS system.

Once you're in the Spanish system, if you go back to the UK you aren't covered for routine treatment, but you're covered for emergency treatment by your UK issued EHIC card".

Thanks so much Kelvin ,  but surely this would not be a ''life'' sentence ,............ or would it , it is such a dilemma

Now I am half disabled for the want of an operation , I don't want to jump out of the frying pan into the fire and I sure don't deserve any life sentence .

EDIT  I found the answer on an expat forum , and it seems my fears were unfounded , I have a screenshot but unable to upload it here

I think you are more likely to get your operation in Spain more quickly, I have been waiting three months in Uk to see a specialist.