State-funded healthcare for expats – UK

Making an international move to the UK?

State-funded healthcare for expats – UK

It is hard to beat the UK’s National Health Service.

Known simply as the NHS it is perceived internationally as one of the best and most enviable healthcare services in the world.

Expats arriving, living, working and even just on holiday in the UK can get emergency treatment at NHS hospitals completely free at the point of delivery.

It is only when a person becomes an in-patient, i.e. has to be admitted into a ward for treatment, that A charge is levied.

Even then the NHS will not start expecting you to pay unless you are well enough to think about it.

If you don’t have private medical insurance or any ready means of paying, they will enable you, once you have left the hospital, to come to some arrangement to pay when and what you can afford to pay.

The UK has, like so many other countries, put in place reciprocal healthcare agreements with a host other countries, for example, Australia, New Zealand, and other member states of the EU.

This means arrangements are in place for expats from qualifying countries to receive healthcare without payment.

Outside of emergency care, Expats should, however, expect to encounter waiting and times for both non-emergency in- and out- patient treatments from NHS hospitals.

Privately funded medical healthcare in the UK is again as good as any in the world.

There are no waiting times.

Most people stick with the NHS, since it is free and you can see the same medical practitioners, except not as fast.

The NHS – How does an expat gain access to it?

While emergency care is free for all, expats living or working in the UK and wanting to use all other NHS facilities, including GP (General Practitioner) and dental-practitioners must obtain an NHS registration number.

Without it a GP cannot refer a patient on for further specialist treatment.

Once registered, you will receive through the post your NHS number card.

This card will have on it the number which will enable you to register with a local GP practice.

Making an Appointment to see a Doctor (GP)

An appointment is usually made by phone. At any time from 8am or 8:30am onwards, you can ring the GP practice surgery to ask for an appointment that day or for one at a later date.

If you are lucky, you will get an appointment that morning, maybe not with the doctor of your choice, but with a doctor who has a free appointment, and at a time to suit you. Appointments for the afternoon of the day you call are usually not allocated until after midday.

If you want an appointment for a later date, you may have to wait days or even weeks.

It is not always easy to get through to the surgery by phone –  you may find they are constantly engaged – so you can, if you prefer, go in person to the surgery to make an appointment. It is rare that you can ring up for an appointment one day and hope to get it the next.

Sometimes instead of seeing a doctor, you will be offered the chance to see a nurse practitioner. A nurse practitioner is a nurse qualified to deal with minor medical matters.

Medicines – Chemists

If a doctor considers you require medicine of some sort he or she will write you a prescription.

This you will have to take to a pharmacy, generally called a ‘chemist’ in the UK, in order to get the medicine.

If the medicine prescribed is not available a chemist will usually be able to get it for you later that day or the next, but mostly they have whatever medicines you have been prescribed in stock.

‘Chemists’ are often located next to or close to the GP surgery.

Some GP surgeries even have an on-site chemist.

You will also find chemists on any High Street and in large supermarket stores. In many instances, chemists and post offices share the same premises.

Chemists also sell many over the counter medicines for treating minor ailments such as colds and flu, skin rashes, sprains, arthritis, etc., and the chemists or pharmacist will be able to advise you if you need to see a doctor or if he or she can sell you a medicine without the need of a prescription from a doctor.

Often it is cheaper to buy the medicine needed without a prescription since the prescription charge is fixed whatever the medicine cost is, great or small.

Chemists also often sell non-medical products, such as soap and shampoo, razors and other toiletries and physical aides.

Dentists

Many dentists in the UK will accept NHS patients.

There are fixed charges for whatever care an NHS dental patient may require, but these are fixed in bands and are considerably cheaper than private dental charges.

Most hospitals can provide free emergency dental care.

Emergency Medical Care

As has already been said above, emergency medical care is provided free at the point of delivery to all expats in the UK.

The care is provided at an A&E or Minor Injuries Units.

All major hospitals have an A&E unit. Not all towns have an A&E facility but there will usually a town or city within easy reach which will have.

Towns that don’t have an A&E unit will have a Minor Injuries Unit which will be able to deal with many of most emergency medical needs.

If they can’t, they will refer you to the nearest A&E Unit.

Ambulance Services

In an emergency or if you cannot get yourself to an A&E or Minor Injuries Unit you can call for an ambulance.

There will normally be a paramedic with the ambulance who can decide if you need emergency treatment.

Paramedics are highly qualified to deal with and assess emergency medical needs and often provide life-saving care before taking a patient to an A&E.

Similarly, they may decide you don’t need hospital care and will deal with your medical needs where you are, or will simply advise you to see your GP.

A&E Units are open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

Minor Injuries Units have restricted opening times.

The emergency phone number to call is 999.

This is the number to call for all emergency services –  police, fire or ambulance.

Consequently, you will be asked with service you need.

If you require non-emergency medical advice outside of your GP practice hours, you can dial 111.

If necessary, this service will send a doctor to see you or may refer you to an A&E or Minor Injuries Unit.

This is a 24 hour, 365 days of the year service.

These emergency services are provided free of charge.

Private Health Insurance in the UK

UK Employers are not expected by law to provide private medical health insurance.

They already contribute to their employee’s healthcare needs by paying part of NI – National Insurance – costs.

Both employees and employer pay NI contributions, which is what pays for the NHS.

However, employers and employees may prefer to provide private healthcare insurance, and many of the big companies do.

Travelling to the UK

There are no special vaccinations required to enter the UK.

But you would be well-advised to have the following:

• Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
• Tetanus
• Diphtheria
• Hepatitis B