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< Up	Personal / Health
Look after your health in the UK

Sections:	Vocabulary
	Free treatment
	Finding a doctor
	Getting medical treatment or advice
	Keeping warm
	General health advice
	Links

The Department of Health is the government section which is responsible for health issues in the UK
The National Health Service (NHS) is the main organisation which provides health care in the UK
Obtain a medical card to show that you can receive NHS treatment (it contains your NHS number)
A health authority is an organisation which is responsible for providing public health services in its local area
A general practitioner (GP) is a local doctor, who you normally contact first about your health problems
A doctor's surgery is the room in which a GP sees patients; this is often within a health centre
A clinic is a medical department, usually within a hospital, which concentrates on a particular group of diseases
A prescription is a piece of paper on which a GP writes down the medicines which a patient needs
A vaccination is an injection which prevents you catching a disease (it "immunises" you against it)
Call an ambulance if you are seriously ill and need to go to hospital immediately: the telephone number to use is 999
A pharmacist is a qualified person who makes and sells medicines in a pharmacy (a chemist's shop)
An ophthalmic optician is a person who tests eyes for sight problems; glasses and contact lenses may be sold to correct these
A dentist is a person who treats problems with teeth; if you have tooth decay, the dentist may need to give you fillings

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Can I get free health care and hospital treatment while I am studying in the UK?

If you are from the European Union (EU) or from a country which has a "reciprocal health care agreement" with the UK, you can have free treatment from the NHS. A list of countries covered by these agreements is available from http://www.doh.gov.uk/overseasvisitors/patientguide.htm

If your course lasts for six months or more, you should be able to have free treatment from the NHS from the start of your stay in the UK. You have to be accepted as being an "ordinary UK resident", which means being in the UK for a "settled purpose" (a short-term course of study may not be considered enough for this).

To be able to obtain free NHS treatment, you need to register with a doctor. You can then register with a dentist who accepts NHS patients (check-ups or treatment are not free, but the cost will be lower than if you are accepted as a private patient). Eye check-ups may sometimes be cheaper if you can show that you are a NHS member (by showing your medical card).

Even if you can have free treatment from the NHS, you will probably have to pay some charges for medicines ("prescription charges"), and for dental and optical treatment.

If you cannot receive free treatment from the NHS, you should buy health insurance (if possible, before you arrive in the UK).

Treatment at GUM ("genito-urinary medicine") clinics, which deal with sexual diseases, is free for anybody.

Note that there may be some advantages in paying for private health care instead of relying on free NHS care. For example, you may be able to receive treatment more quickly, and the quality of service may be better (for example, a dentist providing private treatment may be able to use more expensive materials for filling your teeth).

You can find more detailed information from the Department of Health's website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/overseasvisitors

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How can I find a doctor, optician, dentist, pharmacy or hospital?

You can find local health services using UpMyStreet at http://www.upmystreet.co.uk
Enter your postcode, choose "Health" in the "Find My Nearest …" section, and then select the type of service you need
The places which are closest to you will be listed first

Alternatively, you can use the electronic Yellow Pages at http://www.yell.com
You need to specify where you are looking (enter the name of your town, or the first half of your postcode, or your borough or county), and what type of service you are looking for (choose from the list below):
For a doctor (GP): "DOCTORS (MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS)"
For an optician (eyes): "OPTICIANS-OPHTHALMIC (OPTOMETRISTS)"
For a dentist (teeth): "DENTAL SURGEONS"
For a chemist's (medicine): "PHARMACIES"
For a hospital: "HOSPITALS"

Further details about your local doctors and dentists may be kept in a file at your local library.
Your local Family Health Services Authority (shown on your medical card) can tell you names and addresses of doctors, dentists, opticians and pharmacists in your area.
You can also find details about NHS services in your local area from http://www.nhs.uk/localnhsservices
You can use the "Find-a-dentist" service provided by the British Dental Association at http://www.bda-dentistry.org.uk
(if you do not want to pay for private treatment, you should select the "NHS treatment for adults" box before searching)
Your school or landlord/landlady may be able to give you advice, or may be able to recommend a local doctor or dentist.

How do I register with a doctor?

You should register with a doctor in your local area as soon as you have found a permanent place to live.
The doctor's surgery and your accommodation may need to be in an area covered by the same health authority.
If you are studying at university, there may be medical centre on the campus
When you register with a doctor, you should ask for details of when the doctor's surgery is open, how to make an appointment, and what to do if you need to contact your GP when the surgery is closed.
You should apply for a medical card, which contains your NHS Number (make a note of this number, as it will allow you to get free medical treatment from a National Health Service doctor or dentist). Your medical card is an official document containing your name and address, so you may be able to use this card to prove where you are living (for example, when opening a bank account).

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I am ill. What can I do?

Information on treating yourself is available from the NHS Direct Healthcare Guide at http://www.healthcareguide.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

For advice on less serious illnesses, you can visit a local pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for advice (the advice is free, and you don't have to buy anything).

You can telephone your doctor's surgery to make an appointment to see your GP.
(If you are not near your home, you can get free treatment from any family doctor if you tell them your NHS number)
If necessary, your GP may recommend that you make an appointment to see a specialist (this is called making a "referral")
If you need medicines, your GP will write a "prescription"; you fill in the back of the form and take it to a pharmacy
If you are very ill and you cannot go to the surgery, it is possible to ask a doctor to visit your house

You can call a nurse for free health advice by telephone. This service is called NHS Direct. The telephone number you should call is 0845 4647; this service is available at any time of the day or night. For more details, see http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

If you live near an "NHS walk-in centre" (usually located in cities and large towns) you can visit one of these centres during their opening hours; you don't need to make an appointment. A nurse will give you basic medical advice or treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. Further details about NHS walk-in centres are found at http://www.doh.gov.uk/nhswalkincentres. You can also find your nearest centre by calling NHS Direct using the telephone number 0845 4647

In some cities such as London there are private walk-in centres, usually near stations or in shopping centres. You will have to pay to see a doctor here, unless your medical insurance covers this cost. For details, see MediCentre at http://www.medicentre.co.uk

If you have had an accident and need immediate treatment, you can visit the "accident and emergency" (A&E) department or "minor injuries unit" of your local hospital and wait for a doctor to become available. You do not need to make an appointment

For sexual health problems, you can visit the GUM (genito-urinary medicine) clinic at your local hospital. You do not have to make an appointment, and you do not have to give your real name (the service is confidential, and free).

If you are seriously ill and need to get to a hospital immediately, you can telephone 999 and ask for an ambulance.

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It is important to keep warm while you are in the UK. Here is some advice:

- In wintertime (especially in December, January and February), pay attention to weather forecasts on television or radio or websites such as: http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather. The day's maximum and minimum temperature will help you to know what to wear. If it is going to be particularly cold, you may want to avoid going out if it means you may have to spend a long time outside. Remember that if there is a strong wind it may feel much colder than the minimum temperature stated (this is know as "windchill"). Make sure that you know how to get home if you are out late at night, and consider going to bed early (the coldest time is in the early hours of the morning).

- If the heating in your room can be adjusted, make sure that you know how to change it. Tell the owner of your property (your landlord) if you are too cold - it may be that the central heating can be kept on for longer during cold periods. Ask if you can use a small portable electric fan heater in your room. Some landlords will not allow this because of the cost of the electricity - if so, estimate the cost and offer to pay for this (the cost of 1 kilowatt-hour is typically about 7p, so using a 2 kilowatt heater for one hour costs 14p). Always be very careful about safety with portable heaters - keep them clear of other objects and do not leave them on while you are sleeping.

- Wear layers of clothes. You can take off some of these layers when you go somewhere that is well-heated. The air which is trapped between your layers of clothing will help to keep you warm. Much of your body heat is lost through your head and feet, so wear thick socks and a hat and scarf when it is very cold.

- Buy a hot water bottle and a cover. You can hold the bottle while you are sitting down in your room, and can use it in your bed at night. If you get a good quality cover (such as the sheepskin cover shown below) you will not feel too hot and the bottle will stay warm for longer.

(1) Hot water bottle

(2) Hot water bottle cover

Wellbeing.com (Boots) is the online shop for Boots the Chemists. (1) Healthcare > Winter warmth > Boots Ribbed Hot Water Bottle with handle Celtic Sheepskin (2) Hot Water Bottle Cover

Do you have any general health advice?

These are all personal choices, but to have the best chance of remaining healthy while you are in the UK:

Avoid taking any illegal drugs
Do not share needles or syringes with another person
Do not have too many different sexual partners
Use a condom if you have sex with someone
Get immunised against meningitis and hepatitis B
Go to a dentist for a check-up at least once a year
Use dental floss; change your toothbrush regularly; avoid brushing your teeth too hard
Avoid having too many sweets or fizzy drinks between meals
Take regular exercise (for example, walking or swimming)
Give yourself enough sleep (use earplugs if noise keeps you awake)
Keep yourself warm and dry (carry an umbrella or raincoat with you if it may rain)
Wash your body every day to keep clean
Use sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun on a hot day
Eat well, including plenty of fruit and vegetables
Don't wait to be ill before you register with a GP or dentist
Make an appointment to see your doctor if you are worried about something about your health

International students' health
UKCOSA's guidance notes on "Keeping healthy" and "Welfare benefits and international students": http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/pages/advice.htm
The British Council's "Keeping healthy while studying in Britain" notes: http://www.britishcouncil.org/eis/keepheal.htm

Women's health
BBC Women's Health: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/womens
Net Doctor: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/womenshealth

Men's health
BBC Men's Health: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/mens
Net Doctor: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/menshealth
The Male Health site, set up by the Men's Health Forum: http://www.malehealth.co.uk

General health information
The National Health Service (NHS): http://www.nhs.uk
NHS Direct: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
Net Doctor: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk
BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health
Health in Focus: http://www.healthinfocus.co.uk

Personal safety: Personal/Safety

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