🇬🇧 Healthcare in the United Kingdom
How the NHS works for international students in the UK, how to register with a GP, and the numbers to call in an emergency.
🚨 Emergency numbers
The UK has a publicly funded National Health Service (NHS) — but as an international student you need to check whether you are entitled to use it before assuming care is free.
The healthcare system
Most international students pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) as part of their visa application. If you paid the IHS, you are entitled to the same NHS care as a UK resident: GP visits, hospital treatment, and most prescriptions are either free or heavily subsidised. If you are on a short course (under six months) and did not pay the IHS, you may only access emergency treatment without charge.
Prescriptions for NHS patients in England cost a flat fee (currently £9.90 per item as of 2024); prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Finding & registering with a doctor
Your first point of contact for non-emergency healthcare is a GP (General Practitioner) — a local family doctor. You must register before you can book an appointment.
- Search for a GP practice near your accommodation on the NHS website (nhs.uk) and click "Register as a new patient."
- Bring proof of address and your NHS number (assigned once you register).
- Many universities also have an on-campus health centre — check with your student services office; registration is often faster there.
- After registering you can book appointments online, by phone, or via the NHS App.
Tip: register with a GP as soon as you arrive — you cannot book an appointment until you are on their list, and waiting lists can be long at busy times.
Pharmacies & prescriptions
Pharmacies (chemists) such as Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy, and independent local pharmacies dispense prescriptions and sell a wide range of over-the-counter medicines. Many pharmacies offer a Minor Ailments Scheme where the pharmacist can advise and sometimes treat common conditions without a GP appointment. Bring a supply of any regular medication from home and ask your GP for an equivalent UK prescription on your first visit.
Emergencies & urgent care
| Situation | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Life-threatening (breathing difficulty, severe bleeding, chest pain) | Call 999 / go to A&E (Accident & Emergency) |
| Urgent but not life-threatening (high fever, minor fracture, ear infection) | Call or go online to NHS 111 / NHS Urgent Treatment Centre |
| Routine (checkups, repeat prescriptions, minor illness) | Your registered GP or on-campus health centre |
A&E departments are only for genuine emergencies. For everything else, NHS 111 (free, 24/7 by phone or at 111.nhs.uk) will triage your symptoms and direct you to the right service, which keeps A&E wait times lower for everyone.
Mental health support
The NHS offers talking therapies through the IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) programme — you can self-refer without going through your GP first. Your university's student counselling service is usually faster and free of charge; book early in term. In a crisis, call 116 123 (Samaritans) any time, day or night — the call is free and confidential. Text "SHOUT" to 85258 for a free 24/7 text-based crisis service.