In order to enjoy free healthcare, British residents must register with a general practitioner (GP) and enroll in the NHS. There are GPs in every community, typically within a 20-minute walk. Registration involves visiting a GP to have your information recorded in the NHS system, allowing you to receive a "NHS card". With the "NHS card", you can access free healthcare services throughout the UK.
To ensure the quality of healthcare services, government policies are intentionally designed to encourage competition among GPs, thus granting residents the right to choose their doctors. Residents will naturally opt for doctors with good medical skills and reputations. This compels doctors to diligently serve their patients, or they risk losing many "clients", resulting in a decrease in their income. This is because UK doctors' earnings are not tied to fees for tests, treatments, or prescriptions, thereby eliminating waste caused by over-treatment and unnecessary medical services. For instance, a GP's income primarily comes from a "capitation fee" paid by the government, which compensates based on the number of patients registered.
If the illness is not acute, residents should consult their GP for treatment. However, it is essential to make an appointment in advance to avoid wasting time in queues with other patients. Making appointments is a standard practice in European and American countries; regardless of the activity—be it a medical visit or visiting a friend's home—an appointment should always be made. Unexpected visitors are generally not welcomed as they can disrupt the host's schedule. Of course, emergencies do not require appointments.
The UK separates pharmacy from medical services; after consulting a GP, patients can take their prescriptions to any pharmacy across the country. In Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, obtaining medication with a doctor's prescription from pharmacies is completely free. In England, there is a nominal prescription fee. As of April 1, 2012, the prescription fee in England is £7.65, slightly above the statutory minimum wage (the adult minimum wage in the UK is £6.19 per hour).
The British are highly satisfied with their healthcare system. According to statistics, 92% of hospitalized patients, 87% of patients visiting GPs, and 87% of outpatient hospital patients reported being satisfied with the medical services they received, while 70% of emergency patients expressed satisfaction.
The UK Department of Health oversees national health affairs, specifically managing the NHS in England. The NHS in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland is administered by their respective governments.
