A plain English guide to the UK health system. Registration, appointments, prescriptions, referrals, and more.
The National Health Service (NHS) provides healthcare to everyone living in the UK. Most services are free at the point of use — you do not pay to see a GP, go to hospital, or call an ambulance.
The NHS is funded through taxation, not insurance. You do not need private health insurance to access care, though some people choose it for faster access or additional services.
Important: The NHS operates slightly differently in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This guide covers England primarily, with key differences noted.
Your GP (General Practitioner) is your first point of contact for almost all health issues. You must register with a GP surgery before you can book appointments.
How to register:
1. Find a GP surgery near you at nhs.uk/find-a-gp
2. Contact them by phone, in person, or online
3. Complete a GMS1 registration form (the surgery provides this)
4. You may be offered a new patient health check
You do NOT need: proof of address, immigration documents, an NHS number, or ID to register. Having these speeds things up, but a GP surgery cannot refuse to register you based on lack of documents, immigration status, or not having a fixed address.
If a surgery says they are full, try another nearby or contact NHS England on 0300 311 22 33.
Once registered, you can book appointments by:
Appointment types: Standard (10 min, one issue), telephone/video triage (many surgeries now assess you by phone first), home visit (if you are housebound — request through reception).
Tip: GP appointments are short — usually 10 minutes. If you have multiple issues, tell reception when booking so they can allocate more time. Stick to 1-2 issues per appointment.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| GP appointment | Free |
| Hospital treatment | Free |
| A&E / Emergency | Free |
| Ambulance | Free |
| Blood tests / imaging | Free |
| Prescriptions (England) | £9.90 per item (many exemptions — see below) |
| Prescriptions (Scotland, Wales, NI) | Free |
| NHS dental — Band 1 (check-up, X-rays) | £27.90 |
| NHS dental — Band 2 (fillings, extractions) | £76.60 |
| NHS dental — Band 3 (crowns, bridges, dentures) | £332.10 |
| Eye test | Free for under 16, over 60, certain conditions. Otherwise ~£25 private. |
If you pay for many prescriptions, a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) saves money: £32.05 for 3 months or £114.50 for 12 months — unlimited prescriptions. Worth it if you have 4+ items in 3 months. Buy at nhsbsa.nhs.uk.
| Situation | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Life-threatening emergency (not breathing, heart attack, stroke, severe bleeding) | Call 999 |
| Serious injury or illness (broken bone, deep cut, chest pain) | A&E (Emergency Department) |
| Urgent but not emergency (unsure what to do, GP closed, need advice) | NHS 111 (phone or 111.nhs.uk) |
| Minor illness or ongoing issue (cough, rash, medication review, referral) | Your GP |
| Minor injury (sprain, minor burn, minor cut) | Minor Injuries Unit or Urgent Treatment Centre |
| Pharmacy advice (cold, hay fever, minor ailment, Pharmacy First scheme) | Your local pharmacy (no appointment needed) |
If you are a short-term visitor (in the UK for 6 months or less), here is how the system works for you:
To see a hospital specialist on the NHS, you usually need a GP referral. Your GP assesses you and refers you through the NHS e-Referral Service. You can choose which hospital or clinic to attend.
Waiting times: The NHS target is a first appointment within 18 weeks of referral. In practice, waits vary widely by specialty and region. You can check estimated waiting times on the NHS service search.
Self-referral services (no GP needed):
NHS Talking Therapies (formerly IAPT) — free talking therapy (CBT, counselling) for anxiety, depression, and related conditions. You can self-refer without seeing your GP first. Find your local service at nhs.uk.
Crisis support: If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7) or text SHOUT to 85258. For immediate danger, call 999.
Through your GP: Your GP can also refer you to community mental health teams, psychiatry, or prescribe medication for mental health conditions. Ask for an appointment to discuss your mental health — you do not need to wait until things are severe.
If you are aged 40-74 and do not have a pre-existing condition (heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, stroke), you are entitled to a free NHS Health Check every 5 years. It checks your blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, and calculates your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney disease.
You should receive an invitation from your GP surgery. If you have not been invited, ask your GP or contact your local council.
Bowel cancer: Home test kit posted every 2 years, ages 56-74 (expanding to 50+). Complete and return in the post.
Breast cancer: Mammogram every 3 years, ages 50-71. Invitation by post from local BreastScreen unit.
Cervical screening: Every 3 years ages 25-49, then every 5 years ages 50-64. Invitation from your GP surgery. Done at the GP practice by a nurse.
All free. You will be invited automatically — do not ignore the invitation.
Finding an NHS dentist accepting new patients can be difficult in some areas. Try:
— Search at nhs.uk/find-a-dentist
— Call NHS 111 for help finding a dentist
— Contact your local Healthwatch
NHS dental charges (England): Band 1 £27.90 (check-up, X-rays, cleaning), Band 2 £76.60 (fillings, extractions, root canals), Band 3 £332.10 (crowns, bridges, dentures). Dental charges are free in Scotland and Wales. Under 18s, pregnant women, and people on certain benefits get free NHS dental treatment everywhere.
The NHS App (free, iOS and Android) lets you:
— Book, check, and cancel GP appointments
— Order repeat prescriptions
— View your GP health record
— View test results
— Access NHS 111 online
— Show your NHS number and vaccination status
You need to register with a GP first before the app is fully functional.
Since January 2024, the Pharmacy First scheme in England allows pharmacists to assess and treat 7 common conditions without a GP appointment:
— Sinusitis, sore throat, earache (ages 1+)
— Infected insect bites (ages 1+)
— Impetigo (ages 1+)
— Shingles (ages 18+)
— Uncomplicated UTI in women (ages 16-64)
Walk in to any pharmacy — no appointment needed. The pharmacist can supply prescription-only medicines for these conditions on the NHS. Free for those with prescription exemptions.