Healthcare

HEALTHCARE IN THE UK

EMERGENCY For life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness; acute confused state and fits that are not stopping; persistent, severe chest pain; breathing difficulties and severe bleeding that cannot be stopped, Call 999 or 112 and request an ambulance to take you to hospital. Emergency admission in this manner is free of charge, but the call taker will request information about the patient’s condition, location and basic details. Alternatively, you can visit your nearest hospital with accident and emergency admissions. To find the nearest hospital, you can search here or call 111, who may be able to offer hospital transport free of charge. Hospitals are well sign-posted and often appear on satellite navigation software. NON-EMERGENCY For non-emergency situations there are several options for seeking advice and treatment: + Call 111: NHS services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to offer medical advice and signpost to local services. This service is free from any landline or mobile phone from within the UK. + Contact the local GP: GPs look after the health of people in their local community and deal with a whole range of health problems. They also provide health education, offer advice on smoking and diet, run clinics, give vaccinations and carry out simple surgical operations. General Practitioners can advise on non-emergencies and refer patients to specialised services where necessary. Visitors to the UK with a stay ranging from 24 hours to 3 months can register as temporary patients. Visitors staying for longer than this period can fill out the registration form or ask for one at their local GP practice . Out-of-hours services can be sought by ringing the local GP and following their direction or calling 111. The out-of-hours period is from 6:30pm – 8am on weekdays, all day at the weekends and on bank holidays. REGISTERING WITH THE LOCAL GP If you are moving permanently to the UK, you can register with a GP practice and receive free primary care. Your Dwellworks representative can help you to find your local GP. Once you have identified a GP who can accommodate you and your family you will be asked to register with them by completing a form called GMS1 and this requires you to have a permanent address in the UK. If you are residing in England, you will be charged for NHS prescriptions. It is currently £8.20 per item; however you can acquire a ‘Prescription Pre-Payment Certificate’, which will save you money if you require more than 2 or more medicines for 3 months or longer; all details can be found here . If you are moving to Wales or Scotland; you are entitled to free prescriptions providing you have followed the above information and registered with a local GP. In Northern Ireland, all prescriptions are prescribed free of charge providing you are registered with a GP anywhere within the UK. NHS Minor Injury Units (MIU) & Walk-in Centres MIUs and Walk-in centres offer assessment and treatment for minor injuries, such as cuts, bruises, minor infections, strains and skin complaints. They provide access to experienced

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HEALTHCARE IN THE UK nurses (or sometimes doctor) without appointments or prior registration. Walk-In Centres are usually within the city/town centre, whereas MIUs are often joined to hospitals. To find your nearest centre, search here or call 111. Pharmacy Pharmacists, in addition to dispensing prescribed medication, offer many other services such as: + Flu vaccinations, health checks such as + Blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose testing + Emergency contraception + Pregnancy testing + Stop smoking and weight management services Some pharmacists can prescribe medication for certain conditions and will treat minor ailments. Pharmacies are often found around the city/town centre, either independently or as part of Boots, Superdrug or most major supermarket chains. To find your nearest pharmacy, search here or call 111. Dentist There is no need to register with a dentist. Simply find a practice that's convenient and phone them to see if any appointments are available. There will be charges for treatment, although discounted rates apply with registered NHS dentists or payment schemes. Out-of- hours services can be found by calling 111. Charges for Overseas Visitors Some services carried out by the NHS are exempt from charges. These include compulsory psychiatric treatment, family planning services and most infectious diseases. Treatment for accidents and emergencies as an outpatient in A&E or Walk-in Centre is free of charge, although admittance to hospital will incur a charge. It is strongly advised that anyone travelling within the European Economic Area applies for a valid European Health Insurance card (EHIC), which allows for state healthcare to be obtained at a reduced cost or free of charge. Applications can be completed here . NHS Healthcare versus Private Healthcare In the UK, there are two healthcare options: + The National Health Service (NHS), which is a government run service that is free for all citizens, although cost may be incurred by visitors to the UK. They offer a broad range of services, with specialist care usually accessed through GP or hospital referral. There is often a long wait for the specialist services due to the large volume of users. For more information on NHS Services, click here. + Private Healthcare services, which are paid for monthly, annually or at time of use, usually through private health insurance companies or providers. Private facilities are generally better and the waiting times are shorter, although providers may not have as broad a spectrum of services as the NHS offers. Popular private medical insurances companies are BMI , BUPA and AXA PPP . For more information on private healthcare, click here. Disclaimer: The content provided herein is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation and/or opinion. Neither Dwellworks nor any of its subsidiaries make any representations, express or implied as to the timeliness, accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. Dwellworks expressly disclaims any liability for errors or omissions in such information.

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