It is very important that you register with a local doctor (GP) as soon as possible. If you become ill, and you are not registered, you may not be able to see a doctor. Even if you tend to always be healthy, do not wait until you are ill to register. For UK students who have been registered with a doctor at home, you can still usually see your family doctor as a temporary patient over the holidays if you need to.  A consultation with your doctor is free.

How to Register with a Doctor

You can find a local doctor by using the NHS Local Search at http://www.nhs.uk/ which covers most areas.

International Students

If you have come to the UK to study for six months or more on a full time course , you can use the National Health Service (NHS) and register with a General Practitioner (GP) or family doctor  like all UK citizens. You can then receive free NHS medical treatment, . It is important to register with a GP as soon as you arrive. 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.

Click here for more useful information about health for international students

How much does medical care cost?

All consultations with a doctor are free, however if you are prescribed any medication, you have to pay £7.20 per item. There is no automatic exemption from prescription charges for students, but you can complete an HC1 form, available from Student Services. You may find that you can get help with prescription and dental costs if your income is low enough.

Medical Emergencies

Student Services is not designed to be an emergency service. Anyone who is involved in a medical emergency should dial 999, and ask for an ambulance, which will take you to the nearest hospital Accident and Emergency department. This service is free of charge but should only be used for emergencies when urgent treatment is needed immediately.

Dentists

Before you go to see a dentist, make sure you complete an HC1 form, then check the dentist will take NHS patients, as private dental work can be very expensive. To find a dentist in your area go to http://www.nhs.uk/

NHS Direct

If you are unsure as to whether you need to see a doctor about a particular health problem, contact NHS Direct, which is 24 hour telephone advice service on 0845 4647