Healthcare System in the UK: An Overview for People Moving to the UK

If you are moving to the UK, signing up for a healthcare service should top the list of things to do as soon as you arrive. And while you cannot actually register and sign up for healthcare service prior to your move to the UK, you can at least get familiar with how the healthcare system works and what services are available to you as a new resident in the UK.

You will find the most important topics when it comes to the healthcare system in the UK below, so let’s dive straight in!

Understanding the healthcare system in the UK

The National Health Service (NHS) provides healthcare services, most of them for free, to UK residents and non-residents. The vast majority of UK citizens rely exclusively on NHS, but some also register with a private health insurance plan.

After a successful testing earlier this year, NHS has now launched its own free mobile app for Android and iOS allowing patients to find out what to do when they need urgent help, and manage and book surgery appointments, view their medical records and others. You can learn more about the app here or download it from Apple Store or Google Play.

How to register with a General Practitioner (GP) in the UK

To be able to access healthcare services as soon as you move to the UK, you must first sign up with a general practitioner. As a new resident living lawfully in the UK, you have the legal right to register with a GP practice but before making a decision it’s worth comparing different practices. You can research local directories or use the NHS service search to find a practice that suits your needs.

To complete the registration with the GP, you’ll need to fill out a few forms as well as presenting any evidence to prove that you reside ordinarily in the UK for the time being. For more information on what ‘ordinary residence’ means in plain English, you can have a read through the GOV.UK guidance.

Usually, the GP must accept you, unless there are some reasonable grounds to refuse your request. For example, having no capacity to accept new patients or your home address being outside the practice catchment area.

Bear in mind that if you are not an ordinary resident in the UK, you may be required to pay for healthcare services. Of course, there are services exempt from this rule – for example, accident and emergency services, family planning services and others.

The question ‘du jour’ is what will happen if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal. According to the official information published on gov.co.uk EU citizens who are ordinary residents in the UK will still be able to access healthcare services in the same way. Yet, to be on the safe side, make sure to keep up to date with any updates so you’re aware of any changes affecting your status.

Is hospital treatment free for people who have just moved to the UK?

As a rule, hospital treatment is free for UK residents and people who have moved to the UK and have an ‘ordinary’ residence. However, you should keep in mind that costs still may occur due to the nature of the treatment you need and the specific circumstances.

Emergency numbers in the UK

For any medical emergencies, life-threatening situations and serious accidents or injuries, you can call the UK number,999, or the standard European number,112. If you have a less severe injury that requires immediate treatment you can go to your GP surgery or NHS walk-in centres.

Can I get private Healthcare in the UK

Although NHS offers free healthcare services to all, some people opt for some kind of private health insurance. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to sign up for a private medical plan.

Private health insurance generally gives you faster access to treatment and consultations and helps you avoid the long waiting times in the NHS walk-in centres. In addition to this, premium health plans gives you better control over which hospital to use as well as access to a wider range of specialist treatments which may not be available with NHS.

Although the idea to get private health insurance sounds quite attractive it comes at a price which is considered to be its main downside. Generally, the price of premium plans tends to go up every year so keep this in mind when you are shopping around for premium health plans. Our advice is to speak to several providers and go to comparison websites to see what prices are available before making a decision.

The UK Healthcare system can be tricky especially for people who have just moved to the UK. So why not let European Moving take care of moving your home and belongings so you can concentrate on more important aspects of your relocation such as getting to know the local healthcare system?