Health Care

UK Healthcare: NHS vs. Private

In the UK, there are two options for healthcare, (a) the National Health Service, commonly referred to as the NHS, and (b) private practise. Depending on your situation, it is often advisable to register with your local NHS practise and find a private GP as well. In most cases you will not have to register with the private doctor but it is advisable to contact them before you become sick to ensure they will see you when you need them.

The main advantage of going to a private GP is that you can generally be seen more promptly and private GPs also allow more time for consultations. However, a consultation with a private GP typically costs around £80-£150 while NHS consultations are free. In addition, for children and pregnant women, most medication is free only when prescribed by an NHS GP.

Another difference in the health care system in the UK is that the GP is always the first point of contact, even for children. The general guide is to see your GP first who will refer you to a specialist (e.g. paediatrician/dermatologist) if required. For those with private healthcare insurance, the subsequent specialist appointments with the paediatrician/dermatologist etc. will be covered by insurance but not the initial appointment with the private GP (there is of course no fee for an appointment with an NHS GP).

In an Emergency

If you have registered with the NHS there is always 24 hour cover and emergency contact information should be on the answering machine.
Most private GPs will pay home visits for a call-out fee, usually substantially higher than the consultation fee. However, they can often administer medication on the spot in an emergency.

In other emergencies, it is advisable to find the nearest NHS hospital as the standard of emergency and specialist treatment at NHS hospitals is generally excellent.

So Which System Should I Choose?

The good news is that you don’t have to make a hard and fast choice about whether to go with NHS or private health care - in most cases you can tap into both systems and use the one you feel is most appropriate at the time you need medical care.

Useful Information

NHS in England has a great website to identify practices within your local area as well as other useful information about how the NHS works. www.nhs.uk

NHS Direct is a useful informational service and can be contacted for 24 hours a day (but not necessarily for emergencies). 0845 46 47 or www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

In addition, review the following pages to find more detailed information, recommendations and recommended lists of GPs, specialists, dentists, paediatricians etc.