Healthcare in the United Kingdom
Expats in the UK are entitled to free emergency treatment at all National Health Service (NHS) hospitals, but are liable for in-patient treatment and dental work. The UK has negotiated reciprocal healthcare agreements with a range of foreign countries meaning citizens are exempt from healthcare payments.
Expats looking to take advantage of the NHS should be prepared for long waits and hard to get appointments. Clinics are for the most part basic, but are well equipped to complete preliminary medical check-ups and treat common illnesses.
Using the National Health Service (NHS) as an expat in the UK
As an expat moving to the UK it is vital you register for your National Insurance Card, the formal documentation that allows you to utilise the NHS.
In order to do this, you must make an appointment, sit for an interview and fill out the necessary paperwork. You will then be assigned an NHS number, which is delivered via the postal service to your residence.
Once you receive this piece of information, you can apply at a local clinic within your postal code for a General Practitioner (GP); there are a number of clinics within each post code and in addition to acting as normal doctor’s offices, they usually specialise in a particular area. Thus, do preliminary research and choose the clinic that best fits your medical needs as this GP will become your referral point for any treatment and will prescribe medicines to you.
Once you choose your clinic you register by completing the necessary paperwork and giving a blood and urine sample. From that point forward appointments are made in one of two ways. You can either apply for a same day appointment by calling at 8 am in the morning, hardly successful, or you can call and book an appointment for a date in the future. Technically you can demand to be seen within 48 hours but most likely your appointment will be in two to three weeks. It is important to note that the long waiting lists are for doctor’s appointments; in the case of an emergency the NHI does treat patients speedily and efficiently.
For a list of GPs call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or visit their detailed website for a wide range of healthcare related information.
Private healthcare in the UK
Private healthcare in the UK can be expensive but does guarantee preferential treatment and, crucially, freedom from the long waiting lists that many NHS patients complain about. Many health insurance providers also offer international coverage for when expats travel back to their home country, or when travelling overseas in general. With the range of health insurance products on offer it is best to do a fair amount of research and comparison in order to find the best policy to suit your specific health care needs.
