Many expats will qualify for NHS healthcare in the United Kingdom. The sign-up process takes patience and preparation.
For UK Healthcare, Get an NHS Number and a General Practitioner
Foreign residents in the U.K. must have an NHS number to make routine appointments with a General Practitioner (GP). To get an NHS number, international residents must register with a GP or make an appointment with their local health authority. Getting the NHS number involves an interview and completing forms, including demonstrating your residency. You will have to prove where you live in the United Kingdom. Once you complete this successfully, you will receive your NHS number via mail.
One of the supporting documents expats need for an NHS application is a National Insurance (NI) number. Everyone who already has a biometric residence permit already has an NI number – it’s printed on the back.
After you have an NHS number, your next step is to sign up with a general practitioner. You must be connected to the practice of a general practitioner (GP) to access care. Your GP is your primary care provider and your gateway to specialist health care. You need a GP even if you are paying for your care privately. In rural areas, it may be difficult to find a GP who is accepting new patients to their practice. And if you move to a different region of the United Kingdom, you may need to find a new GP.
Getting Different Types of Medical Care in the UK
Here is how to get different types of medical care in the U.K., from emergency care to private specialist care.
Do you have an NHS number, or are you outside the NHS system?
Your answer determines your first step in getting U.K. healthcare. If you have an NHS number and GP, you can look to NHS care, from the emergency room to your NHS GP. If you are outside the NHS system, you need to go to private practices and clinics. Or you need to be prepared to pay for care from NHS providers, such as an emergency room.
Do you need urgent medical care?
Urgent treatment centers are open at least 12 hours a day. They are a way to get fast care instead of going to the emergency room. They are meant to ease the pressure on hospitals. Learn about your local urgent treatment center. You can book appointments through your GP or by dialing 111.
Are you having a serious or life-threatening emergency?
Go to your nearest hospital’s emergency room, also called the A&E. Though this is an experience Britons try to avoid because of long wait times, you will receive excellent care.
Do you need to see a specialist?
You may ask your GP to refer you to a specialist. In the U.K., if your GP refers you, you have the right to start treatment with a specialist within 18 weeks. You can also make an appointment with a specialist in private practice. Most specialists cost £80 to £250 per appointment.
Do you want faster treatment or a private hospital?
Seek out the United Kingdom’s private health system, where you pay for health care. Private hospitals and clinics in the U.K. are different from NHS hospitals. Private hospitals tend to focus on specialized care. For instance, if you had a heart attack, you would not go to a private hospital to access emergency services. However, you might follow up with a private visit to a cardiology clinic.