HEALTHCARE IN THE UK

The British healthcare system has long been praised around the world for its provision of care and its ‘free at the point of use’ model, which means it is funded by taxes and not cash payments for individual services. The National Health Service (NHS), a publicly funded institution that is also the country’s largest employer, was established in 1945 when Britain’s unity served as the driving force behind many policies designed to care for everyone.

Over time, this healthcare system has been complemented by a growing private sector that works alongside the NHS. Funded by private medical insurance or by cash payments, this private provision has grown to include the vital components of any healthcare network, offering everything from pharmacies to hospitals.

The NHS is still the predominant provider of healthcare for most of the country. It remains free to access for those who are ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, which means those who are living in the UK on a ‘lawful and properly settled’ basis. Some other countries, such as New Zealand and Australia, have agreements which mean expatriates living in the UK can access NHS services for free for a limited period. Other people who usually live overseas but need healthcare whilst in the UK may be charged. There are exceptions to the services that can be charged for: accident and emergency treatment is free for everyone, as is seeing a GP and treatment for infectious diseases.

Accessing Primary Care In The Uk

There are many points of entry for the UK health service, but the first thing you must do is register. Expatriates living and working in the UK can register with an NHS GP practice by filling out a GMS1 form (available to download at www.gov. uk) using the same details they used for their visa. Expatriates registered with an NHS GP practice may be invited for NHS screening services, but they may have to pay for these services when they’re not provided by the GP practice.

Outside of the NHS, there are many private GP clinics that offer primary care services for a fee. Many expatriates are offered private medical insurance by their employer, but it is important to note that visits to a GP clinic may not be covered by private medical insurance. It is imperative that employees find out what is and isn’t included in their coverage. Expatriates who work for large organisations may be provided with access to private primary care services, either on site or at a local private GP clinic.

Accessing Secondary Care In The Uk

When a GP has reason to believe a patient’s condition warrants further investigation, they will either refer them to a specialist clinic or to a consultant who is an expert in that specific area of medicine.

When an NHS patient is referred by their GP, an NHS hospital will allocate them an appointment time. This means that it’s unlikely the patient has control of who they will see or the appointment time and date. Expats registered with an NHS GP practice are not necessarily entitled to free treatment in an NHS hospital.

Both NHS GPs and private GPs can refer patients to a consultant in the private sector if the patient has private medical cover or wishes to cover the cost of their treatment themselves (self-pay). It is also possible for patients to book an appointment directly with a private consultant or specialist without a GP referral, but the British Medical Association (BMA) recommends getting a GP referral to ensure that the recommendation is appropriate.

Those with private medical cover should also be aware that a GP referral is usually a prerequisite to use private medical insurance. Where a patient has private medical insurance, a GP may issue an ‘open referral’. This means they are referring the patient to any consultant with expertise in the relevant specialty, rather than naming a specific consultant. The patient can then choose a consultant they would like to see.

Often their insurance company will suggest a choice of consultants in that specialty from their approved list for the patient to decide between.

Choosing A Consultant

Consultants working in private hospitals are independent practitioners. Many of them provide their services to several independent healthcare providers, and work for the NHS alongside their private practice. The costs of diagnostics and treatment differ across private hospitals and clinics, and the coverage on a private medical insurance policy may have capped limits or be restricted to certain hospitals. Any terms and restrictions should be explained by the insurance company when a patient contacts them to authorise a referral.

Patient reviews for UK consultants are readily available online on various healthcare portals, such as www.doctify.com/uk and www.iwantgreatcare.org. Many consultants also have their own websites to provide some background into their expertise. Patients may also want to consider which private healthcare provider the consultant offers their services at. Some consultants can refer patients on for further investigations or treatment within a wider independent healthcare network or hospital group.

Gathering as much information as possible will certainly go a long way to make conversations with an insurance company easier. It will also ensure there are no financial surprises down the line for both those patients with private medical insurance and those who are self-paying.

Accessing Emergency Care In The Uk

For a life-threatening emergency, you should always dial 999.

Anyone can call NHS 111 if they urgently need medical help or advice but it’s not life threatening. You can also call 111 if you’re not sure which NHS service you need.

For an urgent, but not life threatening, need, you can attend an array of minor injury units, walk-in centres, and urgent care centres. These are often open longer hours than a GP service and can have provisions that GP surgeries do not have, like on site testing and imaging to aid rapid diagnosis. These centres can be NHS funded or private services, so make sure you attend the right one.

The Role Of Pharmacies

Medicine and free clinical advice about common minor illnesses are available to everyone in the UK at a pharmacy. Many pharmacies are open until late and at weekends, and advance appointments are not necessary. Minor illnesses that pharmacists can advise on include aches and pains, earache, red eye, sore throat and skin rashes. They can also dispense medicine from a prescription and provide advice on how to take medicines safely. As qualified healthcare professionals, pharmacists can sell over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses. Over-the-counter medicines do not require a prescription from a GP.

As an expatriate living in the UK, you may find yourself using either NHS or private medical services, or even a combination of both. There are different ways the services interact, and different degrees to which services overlap. From NHS GPs referring to private consultants to ‘joint ventures’ where the NHS and a private provider may run and work in the same facility, the collaborative goal is always to provide patients with excellent care quickly when they need it most.

Hca

HCA was founded by doctors more than 50 years ago in Nashville, US. HCA came to the UK in 1995 and, today, HCA Healthcare UK is one of the leading private healthcare providers in the UK. From primary care to urgent and complex care, HCA UK provides high-quality services across a network of private hospitals, outpatient clinics and NHS partnerships. HCA UK has six private hospitals in London, one in Manchester and a new hospital coming soon to Birmingham.

The HCA UK Medical Concierge Centre is your one point of contact to access medical care with us 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call us now on 0203 933 3999.