The healthcare system and procedures in the UK are very different from those in China. Before investing in immigration to the UK, it is essential to understand the relevant knowledge to avoid confusion when falling ill. In life in the UK, the first step when feeling unwell is generally not to go to the hospital, but to visit your registered GP. Some GPs offer emergency appointments, typically available in the mornings. You can call the hospital appointment hotline as soon as it opens to book an appointment for that morning. The earlier you call, the earlier your appointment time will be, but there is a limited time frame (usually from morning until noon). If you call late, the emergency slots may already be fully booked, and you will not be able to see a doctor that day. However, different clinics have different hours, so it is crucial to check your GP's opening times. Generally, in the UK, you need to make an appointment by phone, providing your name and date of birth (but you must be registered first).
Hospitals in the UK are not as ubiquitous as in Beijing or Shanghai. Large hospitals typically handle major surgeries and emergency care (known as A&E – Accident & Emergency), such as dispatching ambulances, because they have more staff and comprehensive facilities. The ordinary GP clinic is the first step for medical care; if they cannot provide the necessary treatment, the doctor will write a referral letter to a large hospital for further examination. Therefore, unless it is a serious illness, do not rush to the hospital.
On the day of your appointment at the GP, you need to check in upon arrival. You can inform the front desk or use the self-registration kiosks, as many GPs now have touchscreen computers for patients to check in themselves. After checking in, you will wait until your name and the room number of your doctor appear on the display screen on the wall. If you go to the hospital, since no appointment is required, you will need to inform the front desk of your symptoms and then wait for a nurse to call you to measure your blood pressure and temperature, after which you will be grouped according to your condition. The waiting can be quite long, especially if there are many patients. When it is your turn, your attending physician will personally call your name and take you inside. After seeing the doctor at the GP, you will receive a prescription; GPs do not sell medication. You must take the prescription to a local pharmacy to purchase your medication. Pharmacies like Boots, Superdrug (similar to Watsons in the UK for daily necessities), and larger supermarkets offer pharmacy services. In recent years, the NHS has set a standard prescription charge of £8.50 (this price may increase annually based on NHS funding needs). Regardless of whether the doctor prescribes painkillers (which are very inexpensive, costing only a few pence) or medications priced over £8, the charge will be £8.50. This fee goes to the NHS, not the pharmacy. However, if you are under 18 or a full-time student under 18, you do not need to pay for medications on your prescription. When visiting a hospital, medications are provided directly by the doctor at no charge, which is why many large hospitals are referred to as free hospitals.
The Welcome Pack from your GP will include information on how to contact a doctor when the clinic is closed. If your GP has not provided their welcome pack, be sure to ask for it, as it contains important information. In any emergency situation, please call 999 for an ambulance.
