NHS in the UK in Practice — GP Registration, Prescription, Hospital, Costs (2026)

NHS — overview

NHS (National Health Service) is the public healthcare system in the UK, established in 1948. Funded by taxes. Provides care:

• General Practitioner (GP)
• Hospital (specialists, surgeries, ER)
• Community nursing
• Mental health
• Maternity care
• Optical (limited)
• Dental (limited, subsidized)
• Prescription drugs (subsidized)

Who qualifies — free NHS

• UK citizen residing in the UK
• Settled status (EU Settlement Scheme)
• Pre-settled status with 5+ years residency
• Work visa holders (after paying IHS — Immigration Health Surcharge)
• Student visa holders (after IHS)
• Refugees, asylum seekers
• Family visas (after IHS)

IHS — Immigration Health Surcharge

Visa applicants pay IHS to have NHS access:

• Adult: £1,035/year
• Student / child: £776/year
• Paid upfront with visa application
• Active for the entire visa period

After paying IHS — full NHS access from day 1.

Step 1: Registering with a GP (the most important action)

What is a GP

GP (General Practitioner) = family doctor. The first point of contact with the NHS. Everything else requires a GP referral.

Registration procedure

1. Find a local GP practice (NHS website: nhs.uk/service-search)
2. Choose a practice in your "catchment area" (location)
3. Fill out the registration form (GMS1)
4. Provide documents:
   • Proof of identity (passport, BRP)
   • Proof of address (utility bill, council tax letter, tenancy agreement)
   • NHS number (if you have one; if not — assigned)
5. Sometimes a health questionnaire
6. After 1-2 weeks — confirmation

Choosing a GP practice

• Proximity to home
• Opening hours (some evenings, weekends)
• CQC rating (Care Quality Commission)
• Patient reviews
• Polish-speaking staff (limited but exists in Polish communities)

NHS number

Every NHS patient has a 10-digit NHS number. Your unique identifier across NHS systems. Keep it — required for every visit.

Visits to the GP

Booking

• Online (NHS app, practice website)
• Phone
• In person
• Same-day appointments often available (call at 8 AM)
• Routine: 1-7 days typically

Typical visit

• 10 minutes standard
• Doctor issues prescriptions, referrals
• Routine checks, immunizations
• Basic mental health
• Wellbeing checks

Phone / video visits

Since the pandemic — more remote consultations. The first visit is often by phone, in-person only if needed.

Prescriptions

NHS prescription fee 2024-25

• £9.90 per item (England)
• Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland — FREE (devolved)

Pre-payment certificates (PPC)

If you regularly need many medications:

• 3-month PPC: £32.05
• 12-month PPC: £114.50
• Unlimited prescriptions during the period
• Worth it if > 3-4 medications / 3 months or > 12 medications / 12 months

Exemptions from fees (England)

• Children under 16
• 16-18 (full-time education)
• 60+
• Pregnant women + 12 months after childbirth
• Specific medical conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, hypothyroidism)
• Low income (NHS Low Income Scheme)
• Income Support, JSA, Pension Credit recipients

Specialists (consultants)

Referral system

NHS specialists only through GP referral (except for):

• A&E (ER)
• Sexual health clinics
• Dentist (register directly)
• Optometrist (directly)

Waiting times

• Urgent referrals (suspected cancer): 2 weeks
• Routine specialty: 4-18 weeks typically
• Some longer (mental health, orthopedics): 6 months+

Choice of hospital

Patients have the right to choose a hospital for the initial consultation. Choose & Book system.

A&E / ER

• Always free (regardless of status)
• Walk-in, no appointment
• Triage — most critical seen first
• Waiting time: often 2-12 hours
• Major Trauma centers — best for serious cases

NHS 111

Non-emergency medical helpline:

• Dial 111 (24/7)
• Advisors guide where to go (GP, A&E, walk-in centre)
• Free
• With translation services for Polish speakers

Dental (NHS dental)

Limited NHS dental access

NHS dentistry is under-funded. It is difficult to find an NHS dentist accepting new patients.

NHS dental charges (if you find one)

• Band 1 (check-up, X-ray, scale): £26.80
• Band 2 (fillings, extractions): £73.50
• Band 3 (crowns, dentures, bridges): £319.10

Private dental

• Standard check-up: £40-80
• Filling: £80-300
• Crown: £400-1,500
• Dental insurance available (£10-30/month)

Optical

• NHS-funded eye test for 60+, some conditions
• Others: £20-30 eye test
• NHS vouchers for glasses (low-income)

Maternity care

NHS covers fully — free:

• Pre-natal appointments
• Scans (ultrasound)
• Delivery (NHS hospital or home birth)
• Post-natal care

Maternity Exemption Certificate — free prescriptions, dental during pregnancy + 12 months after.

Mental health

NHS Mental Health Services

• IAPT — Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (talking therapy)
• Self-referral often available
• Long waiting times (3-12 months for CBT)
• Crisis: A&E or 111 + select mental health option

Polish-speaking mental health

• Limited NHS options
• Private Polish-speaking therapists in London (£60-150/session)
• Polish Charity organizations (PMHS — Polish Mental Health Service in the UK)

Polish-friendly services

Polish-speaking GP

Rare, but exists in Polish communities (Ealing, Hounslow). Check NHS service search with language filter.

Translation services

Any GP can request a translator (Language Line) — free for the patient. Request if there is an English barrier.

Polish health organizations

• Polish Mental Health Society UK
• POSK (Polish Social and Cultural Association) — health programs
• Polish Welfare in Britain

Private healthcare alternative

When it's worth it

• Faster (1-7 days vs months)
• Choice of specialist
• Comfortable environment
• Sometimes better quality (debatable)

Cost

• GP visit: £50-80
• Specialist consultation: £150-300
• Surgery (joint replacement): £8,000-15,000
• Private health insurance: £30-150/month

Main providers

• Bupa
• AXA Health
• Vitality
• Aviva
• WPA

EHIC / GHIC after Brexit

After Brexit:

• EHIC provided UK citizens free EU healthcare — no longer valid
• GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) — replaced EHIC for UK residents in the EU. Free emergency care in the EU.
• UK residents Polish citizens — can hold a UK GHIC (if eligible)

Practical tips

• Registering with a GP — the first thing to do in the UK
• NHS number — keep it, required
• NHS app — booking, prescriptions, records
• 111 for questions, 999 for emergencies
• A&E always free
• Pre-payment certificate if many medications
• Long waits for specialists — plan ahead
• Private when NHS too slow for some issues
• Dental NHS rare — sometimes private is better
• Maternity FREE NHS — full coverage
• Translator request if English barrier
• IHS for visa holders already paid with visa