healthcare
If you are from an EU/EEA country or a student on a course lasting for more than six months, you will qualify for medical and hospital treatment under the National Health Service (NHS). The NHS is free of charge, though there is a fixed cost for any medication you need at the pharmacy (known as the chemist).
Once you arrive in the UK and have a permanent address (which will have a unique postcode), log on to www.nhsscotland.com/nearest/default.aspx to find your nearest health centre and register with a doctor (known as a GP – General Practitioner). Do this as soon as you arrive, do not wait until you are unwell.
If you are on a programme of study of less than six months, you are strongly advised to take out personal medical insurance, unless you come from an EEA country with a reciprocal health agreement.
Vaccinations and medical requirements prior to entering the UK differ depending on your home country.
If you need emergency medical treatment you should telephone 999. You will be connected to an operator who will ask you which of the emergency services you require – fire, police or ambulance. You will need to give details of where you are and what has happened.
The Accident and Emergency department is at:
• Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN, telephone 0845 456 6000
• Fraserburgh Hospital, Lochpots Road, Fraserburgh, AB43 9NH, telephone 01346 513151
If you are well enough to travel you can make your own way to the Accident and Emergency department and request to be seen by a doctor.
The health advice line is called NHS 24 and the telephone number is 08454 24 24 24.
You should consider registering with a dentist while in the UK. You must be registered with a doctor before being entitled to NHS dental treatment. There is a charge for any dental treatment you have and you can ask your dentist to give you an estimate of the total cost.
To access NHS dental services please call the Dental Advice Line on 08454 565 990.
• For a non emergency treatment choose option 2 and you will be put on a waiting list for a NHS dentist
• For an emergency treatment choose option 1 and you will be informed where to go to a NHS dentist
Currently in Aberdeenshire there are very few dental practices who are still accepting patients under the NHS and most new residents have to register as a private patient. Private dental treatment is very expensive and it is therefore advisable to take out medical/dental insurance.
You can also complete the HC1 form and find out if you are eligible for free prescriptions and free dental treatment.
For more detailed information on healthcare in the UK you can download the UKCISA leaflet ‘Keeping Healthy’ www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/information_sheets.php#keeping_healthy
Another useful website is www.dh.gov.uk