United Kingdom

About the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is an island state in northwestern Europe. It consists of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK also has several overseas territories, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea, as well as the British Indian Ocean Territories and the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.

The climate in the United Kingdom is generally temperate but can vary considerably from region to region. As a rule, temperatures are mild, rainfall is frequent, and weather changes are common.

• Population: 67.33 million in 2021
• Area: 243,610 km²
• Currency: pound sterling (GBP)
• Official languages: English

How the Medical system works in the UK

The healthcare system in the United Kingdom is known as the National Health Service (NHS) and is considered to be one of the oldest and most comprehensive in the world. The NHS is a universal system based on where you live.

In the UK, the healthcare system is mainly devolved, meaning that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are responsible for making their own decisions about the organization of healthcare services. That is why, depending on your destination, you will be registered with one of the following four locally-run, tax-funded healthcare systems:

• NHS England
• NHS Northern Ireland
• NHS Wales
• NHS Scotland

The NHS provides healthcare at all levels, from general medical services to hospital treatment. The system is primarily based on free care, although patients are required to make a financial contribution for certain types of treatment, including when they consult NHS healthcare providers.

These treatments include:

• Dental care
• Vision care
• Glasses and contact lenses
• Prescription drugs
• Transportation costs
• Preventive care
• Long-term care

If you are a foreign national and need healthcare in the UK, your coverage will depend on your personal situation: 

• If you are a national of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA), you can use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). However, you must ensure that the EHIC is valid for the entire duration of your stay. This card only gives you access to emergency services and does not cover treatment arranged in advance.
• If you are a non-EU/EEA national with a valid work or study visa, you may be entitled to free NHS healthcare for the duration of your visa.
• If you are a non-EU/EEA national on a temporary visit or vacation in the UK, you may have to pay for the healthcare you need. However, some emergency treatments or treatments that are required immediately may be provided free of charge.

Visiting a doctor in the UK

As an expatriate in the UK, you have several options for consulting a doctor:

Register with a General Practitioner (GP)

The most common way to access primary care in the UK is to register with a local GP. You'll need to find a medical facility near where you live and register as a patient. You'll need to provide certain information and documents, such as your passport, proof of address, and information about your health insurance coverage where applicable. To find a GP near you, you can use the NHS Choices service.

The NHS GP is the patient's first point of contact with the healthcare system. You need to consult a GP before being referred to a specialist, be it a gynecologist, pediatrician or other specialty. The aim of this system is to control public healthcare expenditure and ensure the efficiency of the system by ensuring that patients only consult specialists when medically necessary.

On average, a consultation with a GP in the UK lasts around ten minutes. Doctors may ask patients to deal with only one medical problem per consultation. It’s therefore advisable to book a longer appointment in order to be able to discuss several medical problems at once.

Use private healthcare services

If you prefer to opt for private healthcare, you can consult a private doctor directly. You will then have to pay the medical expenses yourself or use private health insurance.

Access emergency services

In a medical emergency, you can go to a hospital's emergency department or dial 999 to call an ambulance.

For patients registered with the NHS, most consultations with a general practitioner (GP) are free. There may be a charge for additional services, such as issuing a medical certificate.

For patients not registered with the NHS, consultation fees may vary depending on the facility or doctor you consult. On average, the cost of a private consultation with a GP can range from £60 (€70 / $76) to £150 (€175 / $190). However, fees may be higher for specialist consultations or laboratory tests.

Being admitted to hospital in the UK

The UK healthcare system is divided into three categories:

• hospital care
• primary care
• public health

Generally, hospitalization in the UK is by medical referral. However, direct admission to hospital is possible in an emergency.

NHS hospitals provide a full range of medical services, including emergency, general medicine, surgery, specialist care, radiology, physiotherapy, psychiatry, and more. It's important to distinguish between public and private hospitals. Public hospitals have the infrastructure to handle emergencies but do not have the facilities for all types of treatment. Serious cases will require hospitalization in the more expensive private hospitals. Rural areas do not always have state-of-the-art facilities but are relatively well equipped.

In terms of cost, hospital care in the UK varies for foreign nationals. In emergencies, they can benefit from free healthcare. However, for non-emergency care, charges may apply, but these can be reimbursed if the patient has private health insurance. Medicines administered during hospitalization are also free of charge. However, there may be additional charges for certain treatments, such as drugs prescribed outside hospital, or dental or vision care.

Buying medication in the UK

Prescription medicines are available in the UK with a doctor's prescription. You won’t be asked to pay in advance but you will be required to pay a fixed charge of £9.35 (€10.94 / $11.89) per prescription. However, certain categories of people are exempt from this charge (notably the over-60s, children under 16, and pregnant women).

Vaccinations in the UK

There are no compulsory vaccinations required for a stay in the UK. However, it’s important to be aware of the country's recommended vaccinations:

• Routine vaccinations: Make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date, including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox.
• Flu vaccine: It’s recommended to get a flu vaccine every year, especially if you are in a higher-risk group, such as the elderly, pregnant women, or people with certain medical conditions.
• Vaccines specific to certain populations: Depending on your age, state of health or other factors, other vaccines may be recommended. For example, certain at-risk groups may be encouraged to be vaccinated against pneumonia, hepatitis B, meningitis, or other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Emergency services and useful numbers

Here are some useful local numbers in case of emergency:

• Police: 999
• Fire department: 999
• Medical emergencies: 999