"The First Wealth is
Health."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Arriving in a new country is a very busy
time and there are a lot of changes to go through. For example,
there are differences in food, weather and customs to cope with.
In this type of situation, with all its stresses, you can
find yourself paying less attention than usual to your
health.
In other words, it can be easy to concentrate on your studies and
forget about taking care of yourself. Also, any health problems
can be made worse by the effects of adjusting to a different
climate, unfamiliar food and the emotional strains of being away
from home.
This lesson aims to give advice on how to obtain medical
treatment under the UK state health system.
The National Health
Service
The NHS (National
Health Service) is the UK's state health service which provides
treatment for UK residents through a wide range of health care
services. Some services are free, and some you will have to pay
for.
Am I Entitled to NHS Treatment?
The following NHS
treatment is free for everyone:
• some emergency treatment (but not
follow-up treatment)
• family planning
services
• treatment of certain communicable
diseases
• compulsory psychiatric
treatment
To qualify for any other NHS treatment, you must meet certain
conditions:
1. If your course of study is for six
months or more (or a course of any duration in Scotland)
you will qualify for NHS treatment from
the beginning of your stay on the same basis as anyone who is
ordinarily resident in the UK. Your spouse or children with you
in the UK will also be entitled to NHS
treatment.
To receive free hospital treatment in England and Wales, your
family members must be in the UK as your dependants and not, for
example, as visitors. 'Family' in this situation means your
husband or wife, and your children aged up to the age of 16 or up
to the age of 19 if they are in full-time education.
2. If your course of study is for less
than six months and you are studying in Scotland, you
will qualify for full NHS treatment
from the beginning of your stay.
3. If your course of study is for less
than six months and you are studying in England or Wales
on a course which is substantially funded by the UK government,
you will receive full NHS hospital
treatment from the beginning of your stay, even if your course is
under six months long. 'Substantially' means at least 35 per cent
government funded. You will need to provide evidence of the
funding in order to qualify for free treatment. However, you
might not be eligible for free GP treatment.
If you are in one of the eligible categories described above, you
can register as a patient with a local Doctor (also referred to
as General Practitioner (GP)). GPs are doctors who are trained
and experienced in diagnosing a wide range of health problems.
The Doctor/GP will be based in a local office (called a Surgery)
or in a Health Centre. Some institutions, mainly universities,
have a Doctor's Surgery or Health Centre on campus. Check with
your institution.
You are also entitled to free treatment in NHS hospitals.
We strongly recommend that you register with a GP within the
first couple of weeks of arriving in the UK, even if you do not
feel ill. This is to make it easier to see the Doctor when you
need to, as GPs are often unable to give appointments to people
not registered at their Surgery, except in a real
emergency.
To register at the Doctor's
Surgery or Health Centre, you will need:
- your passport
- evidence that you are a student (for example,
your enrollment letter or student card) and
- proof of your UK address (for example,
accommodation contract or tenancy agreement)
| Image Credits/References:Guidance Notes, Free Health and Wellness, American Family, CMHR |
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