Health care while travelling in the United Kingdom
Your entitlements
You are entitled to subsidised health care during your stay. The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom covers England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. You do not need to enrol in the NHS.
Always advise the doctor that you want to be treated as a NHS patient. Doctors in the United Kingdom do not have to accept a patient for treatment under the NHS. They can request a private consultation fee when a rebate is not available.
If you do not want to pay a private consultation fee you will need to get treatment from a doctor who is prepared to treat you under the NHS, or from the outpatient section of a public hospital.
You will be covered for:
- medical treatment and other services normally provided by a doctor to NHS patients
- in-patient treatment including medicines, nursing care and accommodation in a public ward of a NHS hospital
- outpatient treatment in a NHS hospital
- NHS prescription medicines where the doctor treats you as a NHS patient (a small fee is charged)
- ambulance travel to, from, or between NHS hospitals and other facilities operating under the NHS scheme.
What is not covered
- non-subsidised medicines from retail pharmacies
- Medicines prescribed by the doctor treating you as a private patient
- all treatment and appliances provided by NHS dentists and for dental appliances supplied to outpatients at NHS hospitals
Benefits and services vary on the Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark). If you plan to visit these areas check your entitlements before leaving the mainland.
More information
For more information download a copy of the Health care while travelling in the United Kingdom information sheet [PDF, 192Kb]
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Last updated: 15 April, 2009