The UK is home to the
largest public health care system, the National Healthcare System. Commonly
called the NHS, the system was founded more than 60 years ago and is designed
to provide free medical care to citizens of the United Kingdom, which includes
England, Scotland and Wales.
If you're moving from
Australia to the UK , it's important that you understand the basics of the UK
healthcare system and what it means to you. Even though the NHS is
intended for citizens, you can take advantage of some free services while you
go through the immigration process.
Emergency Care
If you walk into an
Accident & Emergency Centre at a UK hospital or visit one of the country's
walk-in treatment centres due to an accident or an actual
medical emergency, your treatment will be free of charge. The hospital can,
however, declare that your visit was not an emergency. For example, if you had
a bad head cold and visited the A&E, your illness would typically not be
considered a true medical emergency, meaning you may need to pay for the care
received.
Hospital Care
If you need to undergo
surgery, medical testing or be admitted to a hospital, you can receive free
treatment, provided you are employed by a company based in the UK. You can also
receive free treatment as a spouse or child of someone who moved to the UK for
work. The hospital may require proof from your employer to verify that you are
working there. If you are not employed, you are guaranteed free treatment if
you have been in the UK for at least one year. The hospital can also choose to
provide free care for other non-citizens who are legally residing in the UK at
their discretion.
General Practitioners and Dentists
The NHS gives GPs and
dentists the option to establish their own policies for treating non-UK
citizens. Some GPs and dentists will accept any legal resident onto their NHS
patient list, meaning that they can receive free care. Others place certain
qualifications on prospective patients, and some will not accept any
non-citizens as NHS patients.
Chess Moving can help
you find GPs and dentists in your local area and supply you with additional
information about the NHS and moving to the UK . Contact us today for more
information.