Register with local GP

In this country, health care is provided free on demand by the government. The main responsible body is called the National Health Service (NHS). Some of you may have heard of it either on the news or through the internet. Although it is free, we have to register to receive the services.

In order to be eligible for NHS care, you must be registered with a GP in the area where you live. Only your GP can visit you at home, refer you to see a NHS or private specialist or arrange investigations e.g. x-rays. Please do not wait until you are ill before registering with a doctor or obtaining an NHS number. Otherwise, there can be a lot of delays before you receive any services.

If you are away from where you originally registered and need to see a doctor, you can register as a Temporary Resident in the area where you are staying. If you experience or witness a significant medical emergency or accident that will require immediate hospital care you should travel directly to the local hospital casualty department or call an ambulance by dialling 999.

Certain services are not automatically provided by the NHS, for example, private medical certificates for insurance or pre-employment screening. Prescriptions are charged (by the dispensing pharmacist) at a flat fee of £6.00. All contraceptive prescriptions are free. Many groups of people, e.g. children, the elderly, pregnant women, those on low income etc, are entitled to free prescriptions.

Certain charges may apply for medicines for use outside the United Kingdom. A very small number of medicines are not available through the NHS. Some of these medicines are not available at all in the United Kingdom, others may be available, but will require full payment to the dispensing pharmacist.

NHS eye tests are not provided by the medical centre. Instead they are provided by qualified optometrists who are attached to dispensing opticians (see the phone directory or contact the medical centre if you are unsure where the nearest optician is located). There is a standard fee of ca £20.00 when you have your eyes tested (unless you qualify for free prescriptions). The examination is very thorough and you will be given a written report which you can take to any dispensing optician of your choice in order to obtain a pair of spectacles or contact-lenses (in the case that they are needed).

For a brief guide to the NHS - www.nhs.uk/thenhsexplained/default.asp

 Written by Kraijakr Thiratayakinant (Jakr)