Medical services in the UK

Temporary visits to the UK

Under NHS rules anyone, wherever they are from, who needs treatment for an emergency condition that occurs during a visit to the UK will not be charged for treatment at a hospital accident and emergency department or GP’s surgery. This does not extend to treatment as an inpatient or registered outpatient at a hospital or to routine, non-emergency treatment from a GP or dentist. You will normally have to pay for these services, as well as a charge for any medicines you need.

If you come to the UK specifically for medical treatment, you will have to pay for it if you live in a non-EEA country. If you live in an EEA member state you contact your home insurance provider to seek their agreement. More detailed information about medical services in England is available from the Department of Health website.

However, anyone who is entitled to receive Industrial Injury Benefit from Israel will not be charged for treatment from a GP or at an NHS hospital received in connection with that industrial injury when visiting the UK.

If you have come from

• Barbados,
• Jersey and Guernsey, or
• New Zealand,

and you need immediately necessary treatment for a condition that occurs during a visit to the UK, you can get free NHS treatment under the health agreement at a family doctor’s surgery. Hospital treatment is also provided without charge. You will have to pay the same charges for emergency dental treatment and prescribed medicines as UK residents. Again, this does not extend to treatment as an inpatient or registered outpatient at a hospital or to routine, non-emergency treatment from a GP or dentist. You will normally have to pay for these services, as well as a charge for any medicines you need.

Republics of the former Yugoslavia

Once in the UK, visitors from the Republic who are nationals of the Republic can get the full range of treatments available under the NHS on the same terms as residents of the UK. These are generally free of charge, although there are some charges for medicines, dental treatment, glasses and medical appliances.

Jersey and Guernsey

If you are sent to the UK by the Islands’ authorities for specific medical treatment because appropriate help is not available locally, you will get treatment under the agreement without charge. If you come to the UK to get medical treatment in any other circumstances, you will normally have to pay for it.

Living permanently in the UK

If you have come to live permanently in the UK, you can get the full range of treatments available under the NHS. These are all generally free of charge, although there are some charges for medicines, dental treatment and some medical appliances.

You can approach any doctor's practice and ask to be registered on their list for NHS treatment. For help and advice on registering with a GP practice, ask your local Primary Care Trust (PCT). PCT contact details can be found on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk.