Health

The emergency number 999 is for life-threatening emergencies, including serious road traffic accidents, strokes, and heart attacks. In these kinds of situations call the emergency services on 999 and ask for an ambulance.

For more information on when to call 999, visit the NHS website; when to call 999.

The emergency number 111 is for non life-threatening emergencies. If you think you need medical help right away but you are not in a life-threatening situation, you can use the NHS 111 online tool or call the NHS on 111 to get advice about what you need to do next.

For more information on NHS 111, visit the NHS website; when to use NHS 111.

The emergency number 999 is for life-threatening emergencies, including serious road traffic accidents, strokes, and heart attacks. In these kinds of situations call the emergency services on 999 and ask for an ambulance.

For more information on when to call 999, visit the NHS website; when to call 999.

The emergency number 111 is for non life-threatening emergencies. If you think you need medical help right away but you are not in a life-threatening situation, you can use the NHS 111 online tool or call the NHS on 111 to get advice about what you need to do next.

For more information on NHS 111, visit the NHS website; when to use NHS 111.

Accident and Emergency (A&E) is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies. In a serious emergency, you may be taken to an Accident and Emergency department. This is also known as an emergency department.

To find out more about what to expect at A&E, visit the NHS website; When to go to A&E.

Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) and Minor Injury Units (MIU) are for urgent medical help when it’s not a life-threatening emergency. If you need to get a test done like a blood test or an X-ray, you may be advised to visit an urgent treatment centre. They can also help with things like injuries, cuts, and minor burns.

To find out more about what to expect at an urgent treatment centre, visit the NHS website; When to visit an urgent treatment centre.

Accident and Emergency (A&E) is for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies. In a serious emergency, you may be taken to an Accident and Emergency department. This is also known as an emergency department.

To find out more about what to expect at A&E, visit the NHS website; When to go to A&E.

Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) and Minor Injury Units (MIU) are for urgent medical help when it’s not a life-threatening emergency. If you need to get a test done like a blood test or an X-ray, you may be advised to visit an urgent treatment centre. They can also help with things like injuries, cuts, and minor burns.

To find out more about what to expect at an urgent treatment centre, visit the NHS website; When to visit an urgent treatment centre.

England’s National Health Service (NHS) is free at the point of access if you are ordinarily resident in England.

If you are not ordinarily resident in England, you will be charged for services unless they are free for everyone, or you are exempt.

Services that are free to everyone:

Some services are free to everyone, even if you are not ordinarily resident in England. These services include:

- GP consultations in primary care.
- Accident and Emergency services.
- Services for investigating, diagnosing and treating infectious diseases like HIV and Tuberculosis.
- Treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
- Family planning services, not including abortions or fertility treatment.
- Services for treatment of physical or mental conditions caused by torture, female genital mutilation, domestic violence or sexual violence are also free to everyone.

To find out more about free treatments, visit the NRPF Network’s website here; Free NHS treatment.

If you are not ordinarily resident in England, charges will apply for all other NHS treatments. To find out more about accessing services, visit the NHS website here; How to access NHS services in England if you are visiting from abroad.

Am I exempt?

You may be exempt from NHS charges if you are a:

Non-UK national who has temporary leave to remain.
Refugee, including their dependents.
Asylum seeker, including their dependents.
Child looked after by a local authority.
Victim or suspected victim of modern slavery or human trafficking.

The NHS may ask to see proof that you are exempt. This could be a benefit award notice, or an exemption certificate. If you have applied for or been automatically issued and exemption certificate, it is very important that this be renewed every 6 months.

To find out more about who is exempt from paying for NHS treatment, visit the NHS website here; Visitors who do not need to pay for NHS treatment.

England’s National Health Service (NHS) is free at the point of access if you are ordinarily resident in England.

If you are not ordinarily resident in England, you will be charged for services unless they are free for everyone, or you are exempt.

Services that are free to everyone:

Some services are free to everyone, even if you are not ordinarily resident in England. These services include:

- GP consultations in primary care.
- Accident and Emergency services.
- Services for investigating, diagnosing and treating infectious diseases like HIV and Tuberculosis.
- Treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
- Family planning services, not including abortions or fertility treatment.
- Services for treatment of physical or mental conditions caused by torture, female genital mutilation, domestic violence or sexual violence are also free to everyone.

To find out more about free treatments, visit the NRPF Network’s website here; Free NHS treatment.

If you are not ordinarily resident in England, charges will apply for all other NHS treatments. To find out more about accessing services, visit the NHS website here; How to access NHS services in England if you are visiting from abroad.

Am I exempt?

You may be exempt from NHS charges if you are a:

Non-UK national who has temporary leave to remain.
Refugee, including their dependents.
Asylum seeker, including their dependents.
Child looked after by a local authority.
Victim or suspected victim of modern slavery or human trafficking.

The NHS may ask to see proof that you are exempt. This could be a benefit award notice, or an exemption certificate. If you have applied for or been automatically issued and exemption certificate, it is very important that this be renewed every 6 months.

To find out more about who is exempt from paying for NHS treatment, visit the NHS website here; Visitors who do not need to pay for NHS treatment.

A General Practitioner (GP) is a local doctor who can give you medical advice, diagnose illness and prescribe medications. You can speak to your GP about physical and mental health worries.

Refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to NHS care, and it is free to register with a GP in England. You should register as soon as possible to make sure you can see a doctor when you are unwell. To find out more about registering, visit the NHS website here; Register with a GP surgery.

You do not need to bring ID or proof of address to register, but it can be useful. To find out more about your rights and what to do if you are refused registration, read the NHS leaflet; How to Register with a GP for Asylum Seekers and Refugees.

A General Practitioner (GP) is a local doctor who can give you medical advice, diagnose illness and prescribe medications. You can speak to your GP about physical and mental health worries.

Refugees and asylum seekers are entitled to NHS care, and it is free to register with a GP in England. You should register as soon as possible to make sure you can see a doctor when you are unwell. To find out more about registering, visit the NHS website here; Register with a GP surgery.

You do not need to bring ID or proof of address to register, but it can be useful. To find out more about your rights and what to do if you are refused registration, read the NHS leaflet; How to Register with a GP for Asylum Seekers and Refugees.

Pharmacists are professionals who can give you advice and medicines for a range of minor illnesses. This could be a cough, cold, sore throat, ear infection or aches and pains.

A pharmacist will tell you if you need to see a doctor or other health professional for your illness.

To find out more about how a pharmacist can help and where your nearest pharmacy is, visit the NHS website here; How pharmacies can help.

Collecting Prescription Medicine:

If you see your GP and they decide you need medicine, you will receive a prescription. To collect your medicine, you can take your prescription to any pharmacy.

If you are not exempt from NHS fees, you will need to pay for your prescriptions. However, you may not need to pay if you are:

- Age 60 or over.
- Under 16.
- Age 16-18 and in full-time education.
- Pregnant, or have had a baby in the last 12 months, and you have a valid maternity exemption certificate.
- Holding a medical exemption certificate because you have a certain medical condition.

If you are not exempt for the above reasons, you may be eligible for the NHS Low Income Scheme, which can give full or partial help towards costs. To find out more about how to apply for the scheme, visit the NHS website here; NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).

To check if you can get free prescriptions, visit the NHS website here; Check if you can get free prescriptions.

If you have already applied to the scheme and received your HC2 certificate, you will not be charged for your prescriptions. You should take your certificate with you to show the pharmacy staff.

Pharmacists are professionals who can give you advice and medicines for a range of minor illnesses. This could be a cough, cold, sore throat, ear infection or aches and pains.

A pharmacist will tell you if you need to see a doctor or other health professional for your illness.

To find out more about how a pharmacist can help and where your nearest pharmacy is, visit the NHS website here; How pharmacies can help.

Collecting Prescription Medicine:

If you see your GP and they decide you need medicine, you will receive a prescription. To collect your medicine, you can take your prescription to any pharmacy.

If you are not exempt from NHS fees, you will need to pay for your prescriptions. However, you may not need to pay if you are:

- Age 60 or over.
- Under 16.
- Age 16-18 and in full-time education.
- Pregnant, or have had a baby in the last 12 months, and you have a valid maternity exemption certificate.
- Holding a medical exemption certificate because you have a certain medical condition.

If you are not exempt for the above reasons, you may be eligible for the NHS Low Income Scheme, which can give full or partial help towards costs. To find out more about how to apply for the scheme, visit the NHS website here; NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).

To check if you can get free prescriptions, visit the NHS website here; Check if you can get free prescriptions.

If you have already applied to the scheme and received your HC2 certificate, you will not be charged for your prescriptions. You should take your certificate with you to show the pharmacy staff.

NHS dentists check your teeth and mouth to see if they are healthy. You can find your nearest dentist by visiting the NHS website here; Find a dentist.

To find out more about what to expect at a dentist appointment, visit the NHS website here; What happens when you visit an NHS dentist.

Treatment Cost:

Like all other NHS patients in England, you will be charged for NHS dental services unless:

- You are exempt from NHS charges. You will need to bring proof of exemption to show the dental practice.
- The treatment is free (for example to remove stitches, stop bleeding in the mouth, repair dentures).
- You are under the age of 18, or under 19 in full-time education.
- You are receiving certain benefits. You will need to bring proof of benefits with you to show the dental practice.
- You are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, and you have a valid maternity exemption certificate. You will need to bring this certificate with you to show the dental practice.

If you are not exempt for the above reasons, you may be eligible for the NHS Low Income Scheme, which can give full or partial help towards costs. To find out more about how to apply for the scheme, visit the NHS website here; NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).

NHS dentists check your teeth and mouth to see if they are healthy. You can find your nearest dentist by visiting the NHS website here; Find a dentist.

To find out more about what to expect at a dentist appointment, visit the NHS website here; What happens when you visit an NHS dentist.

Treatment Cost:

Like all other NHS patients in England, you will be charged for NHS dental services unless:

- You are exempt from NHS charges. You will need to bring proof of exemption to show the dental practice.
- The treatment is free (for example to remove stitches, stop bleeding in the mouth, repair dentures).
- You are under the age of 18, or under 19 in full-time education.
- You are receiving certain benefits. You will need to bring proof of benefits with you to show the dental practice.
- You are pregnant or have had a baby in the last 12 months, and you have a valid maternity exemption certificate. You will need to bring this certificate with you to show the dental practice.

If you are not exempt for the above reasons, you may be eligible for the NHS Low Income Scheme, which can give full or partial help towards costs. To find out more about how to apply for the scheme, visit the NHS website here; NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS).

Public Health Services