This page provides overseas students in the UK with valuable information regarding personal health issues.
· The National Health Service (NHS)
The National Health Service (NHS) provides medical care for UK residents through a wide range of services. Some services are free and others must be paid for. Free NHS treatments include; doctor’s examinations and consultations, emergency hospital treatments (but not follow-up treatments), family planning services, treatment of certain contagious diseases and compulsory psychiatric treatment. NHS patients must still pay for medicines prescribed by their doctor plus some doctor’s services (i.e. vaccinations) as well as dental and eye care.
In addition to the NHS the UK also has private doctors and hospitals that treat patients for a fee or who have the appropriate medical insurance. Note that certain NHS treatments have a very long waiting time and although provided free of charge, many people, who can afford to do so, choose to pay for private medical care instead as it can give much quicker access to the treatment needed.
· Access to doctors, medical care and hospital treatments
Overseas students in the UK on a course of study lasting six months or longer can get treatment from the NHS, on the same basis as ordinary UK residents, from the beginning of their stay in the UK. Students on courses of less than six months duration are still able to see a doctor for free treatment under the NHS, but treatment is at the doctor’s discretion, meaning they may refuse to give treatment and students will not be entitled to NHS hospital treatment except for emergency treatment given in an NHS hospital’s accident and emergency (A&E) department.
Note that full time overseas students in Scotland may use the NHS from the day they arrive, even if they are on a course of study lasting less than six months.
On arrival in the UK, students should register as a patient with a local doctor, usually referred to as a General Practitioner (GP). GPs can treat most illnesses and other health problems. Sometimes the GP will need to refer the patient to see a specialist at a hospital. GPs are usually based in a local office, called a “Surgery”, or in a Health Centre. Many UK universities have a doctor’s surgery or health centre on campus. It is recommended students register with a local GP soon after they arrive in the UK, even if they do not require any medical care. This will make it much easier to see a doctor if/when needed. When registering as a patient with a GP, students should take with them their passport, evidence that they are a student (i.e. enrollment letter or student I.D. card) and proof of UK address (i.e. accommodation contract or utility bill). After registering with a GP, students will be sent an NHS medical card with their unique NHS patient number. They should keep this card somewhere safe.
To search for the nearest NHS GP surgery, hospital, dentist or optician in the UK, see www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx and enter a UK postcode or location in the search box. Note that GP surgeries have their own geographical boundaries and whilst a postcode search may highlight the nearest surgery, it does not necessarily mean that students will automatically be able to register there.
Many illnesses and medical conditions are treatable by taking a course of medication. Where this is the case, the doctor will write a prescription for the patient, detailing the required medication. The patient then needs to take the prescription to a pharmacy where they must pay a set fee for each medicine (currently about ￡7.00).
In instances of medical emergencies for serious illness or injury, students should make their way to a hospital with an A&E department, which are open 24 hours a day, every day. If immediate medical assistance is required or if the patient is unable to travel by themselves, they can call for an ambulance by telephoning 999. Calls to this number are free from all phones, including public pay phones and mobile phones. Callers should ask for an ambulance and give the operator their exact location and the nature of the medical emergency.
The NHS has a service called NHS Direct, which is a very useful source of information on a huge number of different medical conditions. The information provided can help patients diagnose themselves as well as recommending suitable treatments. For more information see www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
Overseas students who are not eligible for NHS treatment should ensure that they have adequate medical insurance to cover any costs if they fall ill or have a serious accident while in the UK. Medical insurance covers the cost of medical treatments and some insurance plans also cover many additional costs resulting from hospitalisation, including; lost tuition fees, if the student is unable to complete their course of study, costs of parents travel to the UK, costs of student returning to their home country for treatment, etc. Even if a student is entitled to NHS treatment, they may consider taking out medical insurance to cover the above additional costs, which can be substantial. In addition, having medical insurance can mean that a patient receives the treatment they need much faster than if they wait for free NHS treatment (note that certain treatments on the NHS have very long waiting times).
If a student already has medical insurance in their home country, they should check to see if the policy covers them while they study in the UK. If not they should check whether they can extend the policy to cover them.
Medical insurance can be obtained from a UK insurer, with some insurers offering policies designed especially for overseas students.
Note that Blue Sky Study can help students arrange all of their insurance requirements before they leave home.
It is recommended everybody has their teeth checked by a dentist at least once a year. Many overseas students will choose to have their regular check-ups when they return to their home country during vacations. However, it is possible a student will need urgent dental treatment while in the UK, in which case they can make an appointment to see a dentist in the UK.
Dental treatments on the NHS are not free. NHS patients must still pay a fee to the dentist, even for routine check-ups, but this fee will be lower than the full cost of private treatments. Note that some dental treatments in the UK can be very expensive so students can end up saving a substantial amount of money if they get treated through the NHS.
Note that students first need to be registered with an NHS GP and have an NHS medical card and number and must also find a dentist that accepts NHS patients, in order to qualify for subsidised NHS dental treatment, otherwise they will have to pay the full costs of any treatment.
To search for the nearest NHS dentist in the UK, see www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx and enter a UK postcode or location in the search box.
Dental care can be included in some medical insurance plans or separate dental insurance policies are also available from most insurers.
Like with the case of dental care above, many overseas students will prefer to have their regular eye check-ups when they return to their home country during vacations. However, students might lose or accidentally break their glasses while in the UK, meaning they will need to visit an optician without delay.
Eye care in the UK is provided by specialist opticians. Students will have to pay a minimum charge for a standard check-up on the NHS, unless they are under the age of 19. The costs of glasses and lenses are not subsidised by the NHS, so students must pay the full costs for these items.
To search for the nearest NHS optician in the UK, see www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx and enter a UK postcode or location in the search box.
Much of the information above is provided as a reference for students that require some form of medical care. It is also important for students to stay healthy, lowering the probability that medical attention becomes necessary, by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Many overseas students will dedicate the majority of their time in the UK to studying, while any spare time leftover is commonly used for relaxation and socialising. However, the importance of regular exercise should never be underestimated. Regular exercise can help students stay physically fit and healthy, reduces the likelihood of them catching a cold or getting ill and increases stamina while reducing both physical and mental fatigue. Students everywhere that wish to study hard and achieve academic success should remember the well known saying, “Healthy body = healthy mind”.
While all students in the UK are encouraged to have an active social life, it is important they strike a good balance between studying and socialising, while also making sure they still get enough sleep each night. The occasional late night is not going to hurt anyone, but regular late nights with insufficient sleep will soon have a detrimental effect on a student’s overall health, which could in turn affect their studies. Lack of sleep naturally leads to increased levels of tiredness which is not conducive to concentrating fully in classes.
Maintaining a healthy diet can often be quite hard to achieve while a student in the UK. Many students will be on a limited budget, which means that the cost of food becomes a more important factor than its health and nutritional benefits. Students that resort to eating a lot of processed food, junk food, fast food, etc. should make sure they also eat freshly prepared meals occasionally and at least try to ensure they also eat some fresh fruits and vegetables, to maintain a balanced diet.
Many overseas students go to study in the UK around the age of 18, after finishing high school in their home country. This means that they arrive in the UK over the legal age to be served alcohol (18+). Consequently, many students will have their first introduction to drinking alcohol at this stage. Student life in the UK typically involves drinking a lot of alcohol when socialising. During term-time student union bars are often full of students in the evenings and not just on weekends. It is important that students always try to drink responsibly. Although small amounts of beer and wine can have certain health benefits, excessive drinking can have serious medical side effects including temporary loss of consciousness, liver failure and alcohol poisoning. Students should be aware of their own limit and take care not to drink more alcohol than they can manage.
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