{"id":2047,"date":"2023-04-11T10:56:28","date_gmt":"2023-04-11T02:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2047"},"modified":"2023-04-11T16:07:44","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T08:07:44","slug":"an-overview-of-the-united-kingdom-healthcare-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.uk\/blog\/an-overview-of-the-united-kingdom-healthcare-system\/","title":{"rendered":"An Overview of the United Kingdom Healthcare System"},"content":{"rendered":"

The UK is home to a tax-payer funded healthcare system known as the National Health Service<\/a>, or NHS for short. It provides the same quality of care to everyone for free \u2013 regardless of income. The NHS was set up in the wake of the second world war and is close to the hearts<\/a> of many British people.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, a thriving private healthcare sector also exists in the country, catering to those who can afford it. The appeal of the private sector in the UK comes primarily from an overburdened NHS<\/a> \u2013 long waiting times and lack of resources.<\/p>\n

In fact, in recent years, there has even been a surge in the sale of private health insurance<\/a> due to this ongoing crisis facing the NHS.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re an expat moving to the UK, you might be wondering if you should stick with the NHS or go down the private route. Before you make the decision, it\u2019s crucial to understand how the UK\u2019s healthcare system works.<\/p>\n

This Pacific Prime UK<\/a> article gives you an overview of both the NHS and private healthcare sectors, outlining the pros and cons, as well as providing information about health insurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\"Individual<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n

The NHS<\/h2>\n

All hospitals in the UK are run by NHS trusts, a healthcare provider set up to deliver hospital and community services. There are 219 trusts<\/a> in the UK, with each trust running multiple hospitals.<\/p>\n

Accessing Services and Costs<\/h3>\n

In the NHS system, the first point of contact for health-related matters is a general practitioner (GP). According to government data<\/a> from 2014, there are 76 general practitioners per 100,000 people in England.<\/p>\n

As an expat, you will have to find a GP<\/a> and register with them. This is usually done online, by phone, or in person. Once you\u2019ve registered, you will be able to make appointments for non-emergencies.<\/p>\n

Your GP will then assess your condition and refer you to a specialist if you require one. You can then visit a specialist clinic or hospital for further consultation and\/or treatment.<\/p>\n

For urgent medical issues, you can call NHS 111 to speak to an advisor. They\u2019ll assess your symptoms and tell you what to do next. This usually involves going to an accident and emergency (A&E) room.<\/p>\n

The NHS provides very comprehensive care that is free of charge. However, expats from outside the EU\/EEA\/Switzerland have to pay a mandatory health surcharge<\/a> of GBP \u00a3470 per year to get the same access to the NHS as locals.<\/p>\n

Short-term visitors who did not pay the health surcharge and do not have medical insurance will be charged at 150% the standard NHS tariff for any care received. But some groups of visitors are exempt<\/a> from paying for NHS treatment.<\/p>\n

As a patient, you\u2019ll get access to:<\/p>\n