Healthcare

The NHS is the UK's state health service which provides treatment for UK residents. Some services are free, other have to be paid for. The regulations that govern who can and can't receive treatment are complex and may change. The following information is based on information received from the Department of Health, UKCOSA, Oxford City Primary Care Trust and the University Occupational Health Service.

A person who is regarded as ordinarily resident in the UK is eligible for free treatment by a GP. A person is 'ordinarily resident' for this purpose if lawfully living in the UK for a settled purpose as part of the regular order of his or her life for the time being. Anyone coming to live in this country would qualify as ordinarily resident. Overseas visitors to the UK are not regarded as ordinarily resident if they do not meet this description.

The following NHS treatment is available to anyone:-

  • Treatment in an emergency (but not follow up treatment)
  • Treatment of certain communicable diseases
  • Compulsory psychiatric treatment
  • To qualify for other NHS treatments you must meet certain conditions which are outlined below.

EU Nationals

Foreign nations from EU member states have reciprocal arrangements for both dental and medical health care so can access the full range of NHS services.

Non EU Nationals

Foreign nationals from non-EU countries have no automatic right to NHS healthcare (other than those outlined above). Students and visitors who are going to stay in the UK for less than 6 months would have to be seen as private patients and would have to pay for their treatment. It is therefore essential that you take out medical insurance for the duration of your visit prior to arrival in the UK.

If you not a student registered at a UK university and are going to stay in the UK for between six months and a year you may be able to convince a General Practitioner (GP) to register you and treat you as temporary resident and to offer you NHS treatment. However, be aware that the GP should convince himself that you are going to be resident in the UK for 6 months from the date of attendance at his surgery. Be aware that a valid 6 month visa does not automatically confer the right to free NHS treatment. Please note that registering with a GP does not give you automatic entitlement to access free NHS hospital treatment. It is therefore essential that you take out medical insurance for the duration of your visit prior to arrival in the UK.

If you are a student registered at a UK University (and you have documentary proof of this) and are going to stay in the UK for more than six months you will qualify for NHS treatment from the beginning of your stay and you (and your family) will be entitled to NHS treatment and you may register with a GP.

The UK does have reciprocal arrangements with a number of countries which may affect the level of healthcare available to their nationals. At the moment there are no reciprocal agreements with Kenya, Thailand or Viet Nam.

If you are entitled to NHS treatment you should receive the following services free of charge:-

  • Consulting a GP and most other GP services
  • Treatment in hospital (both emergency and non-emergency treatment)

You will need to pay for:-

  • Medicines prescribed by your GP (there are some exceptions to this)
  • Some GP services
  • Dental treatment
  • Optical treatment