The National Health Services (NHS) provides free medial treatment to residents of the UK. Expatriates and their dependents can join the NHS as long as the expatriate is having deductions made from their pay cheque. Medical care, often including house calls, is free. Prescription medications, dental care and eyeglasses require a fee, even if the dentist or optometrist is part of the NHS.

Within the NHS, patients register with a general Practitioner (GP) in their residential area. After completing the required forms, the patient is provided with medical card. This allows the patient to see any doctor who works in this practice. Patients may change GPs. GPs act as a gatekeeper to other specialist physicians and hospitals. Most GPs are self-employed and provide services to the NHS, either as solo practitioners or, more commonly, as members of a small medical practice.

There is also a private healthcare sector comprised of mostly medical specialists. Many doctors who contract with the NHS also have private practices.

There are private primary care centres at some London train stations that provide immediate medical consultations. They generally handle business people who do not have the time to make normal GP appointments during the workday.

There are both private and NHS hospitals. The NHS trust hospitals can be regional or national centres for specialised care, attached to medical schools or simply be community hospitals. Not all hospitals have emergency rooms. In case of emergency, look for a large NHS trust hospital. Most private hospitals do not offer this service. General Healthcare Group Ltd, Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust Ltd, BUPA Hospitals Ltd., Community Hospitals Group PLC and HCA Columbia Healthcare Ltd. are consortiums that operate the majority of the private hospitals.

Prescriptions are charged at a flat rate, regardless of the medication or amount.

Health Advisories

• For specific health information and advisories, please see the CDC Web site.
• There are no health risks that cannot be avoided by exercising common sense.
• Food preparation hygiene standards are excellent. Food and tap water are safe.

Hospitals
There are too many hospitals to include a list. The following are the web sites for the major private hospital systems:

• BMI Healthcare
• Nuffield Hospitals
• BUPA Hospitals