Health in the UK
Below you will find information which is particularly important to international students when you are in the UK. You can also find lots of useful information under Health in the Student Services section.
Click on the list below for information:
- Useful Words
- Your Health in the UK
- Medical Help at the University
- The National Health Service
- Registering with a Doctor in London
- Emergencies
- NHS Walk-In Centres
- NHS Direct
- Medical Help for Chinese Students in the UK
- Students on courses for less than 6 months
Useful Words:
NHS - National Health Service. The name for the system in the UK of free health care for all.
GP - General Practitioner. The name for doctors who work in the local community.
GP Surgery / GP practice - The place where GP's work.
A+E - Accident and Emergency department in hospital
Your Health in the UK
When you come to the UK to study, it is especially important to be aware of your physical, mental and sexual health. You are living in a different climate, perhaps eating a different diet and preparing your own food for the first time. Even the laws and expectations about drinking alcohol, dating and sex may be different from what you are used to. All the changes and differences you will find can be more difficult when you do not have your normal network of friends and family around you.
Medical Help at the University
All sites have trained first-aid staff, but we do not have a full medical service like some campus universities. However, there are two trained health advisers based at High Holborn who can give you advice. For more information and details on how to contact the advisers go to the Health page on the Student Services website.
The National Health Service
The UK has a free National Health Service (NHS) and if you are studying full-time and have permission to be in the UK as a student for longer than 6 months, you are entitled to use it. Your sticker in your passport will probably say 'no recourse to public funds'. Using the NHS is not using 'public funds'.
The University college sites are widely spread across London and as we do not have a medical service you must register with a doctor to access the NHS. Please read below.
Registering with a Doctor in London
Registering with a doctor (a GP) simply means going to your local GP surgery and putting your name on the list of patients. You do not pay anything to register. You will need to show your passport and evidence of your address. Some doctors surgeries are already full so you may have to try different places.
Registering with a doctor is very important. Do not wait until you are sick because you may then have to wait to get an appointment.
Once you have registered with your GP, you may receive free National Health Service (NHS) medical treatment from the beginning of your stay, including free medical check-ups and hospital treatment like all UK citizens. Prescriptions cost £7.20 per item.
Students living in Halls of Residence can register at the GP connected to their Hall. For a list of addresses go to the Health section of the Student Services website or ask the manager in your Hall. If you are not in Halls, click on the NHS website to search for a practice near you.
If your GP thinks that you need to see another specialist doctor in a hospital, he can refer you (recommend that the specialist sees you). This is also free. Many patients in the UK have to wait some time for an appointment.
If you have any problems registering with a doctor, please come to Student Services or contact our health adviser on e-mail.
Emergencies
For an ambulance, call 999. This service is free. If you have an accident, you should go to the 'Accident and Emergency' (A+E) department of the nearest hospital. (Not all hospitals have A+E). This department is very busy and you will probably have to wait so you should only go there if it really is an emergency. Do not go to A+E if you are ill or need medicine - you should make an appointment with your GP.
NHS Walk-In Centres
Walk-in centres offer healthcare advice and treatment without having to make an appointment. You can go there and see a nurse on the same day. They can help you with minor injuries and illnesses (for example colds, flu, stomach upsets) and minor injuries (for example strains and small cuts and bruises). They can also give you health advice and information. There are 8 walk-in centres in London. For a map and details go to the NHS walk-in centre website
NHS Direct
NHS Direct is a 24-hour phone line, staffed by nurses, which offers quick access to health care advice. NHS Direct nurses will give you advice and support on self treatment or if you need further help, they'll put you in touch with the right service. If it is a serious condition or an emergency, the nurse will give you speedy advice on what you need to do, and will call an ambulance if needed.
You can find information and advice about the most common illnesses, and a range of treatments for them, on the NHS Direct website or by phoning NHS Direct on 0845 4647
Medical Help for Chinese Students in the UK
The Chinese National Healthy Living Centre was set up to help support the Chinese community in the UK. They can help you find your way around the NHS and they also offer a counselling service - all in your own language. The Centre, which is based in Soho offers the following:
- Multi-lingual Helpline - 0845 601 6030
- Sunday Surgery - free NHS doctor on Sundays from 11am to 4 pm
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Disability and Carers Support
- Interpretation Support - help communicating with your GP
- Internet Cafe
- Counselling Services
- Information Service
For more information, visit the www.cnhlc.org.uk/
or contact them at:
29-30 Soho Square
London
W1D 3QS
Tel - 0207 287 0904 or 0207 534 6546
e-mail - general@cnhlc.org.uk
Students on courses for less than 6 months
If you are in the UK for less than six months, you may only receive free emergency treatment on the NHS, unless you are from a European Economic Area country, or your country has a reciprocal health care agreement with the UK. Others on short courses or exchange programmes should arrange health insurance before they travel.
For more information go to the Department of Health website section for visitors to the UK.
If you are coming to the UK for less than 6 months, you should apply for health insurance in your own country to cover your time in the UK. The University is currently working to form agreements with companies to help our students - we will update the website as soon as we have any information or contact the health advisers when you are in the UK. See Health on the Student Services website for contact details.
Last updated: January 2011
