NHS services and entitlements

NHS entitlements to primary care in England

Anyone in England can register with a General Practitioner (GP), see a primary care doctor or nurse or receive primary care services free of charge, regardless of nationality or immigration status. It is not a requirement to provide proof of address or identity to register at a GP practice. But it is helpful to do so, and you may be asked for documentation if possible. There is also no requirement to provide proof of immigration.  

If homeless, you can provide a temporary address or a friend’s or GP practice address.

A GP practice cannot refuse to register you for discriminatory reasons on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. You may be refused if you live outside the catchment area or have been removed from the GP registration. If a GP refuses to register you, they must notify you in writing of the refusal and its reason within 14 days of the decision. 

Do I need documents to register with a GP?  
You do not have to provide ID when registering with a GP, but it is helpful.  

It would be helpful if you could provide at least one of the documents below when registering with your GP:  

  • ARC card 
  • Biometric residence permit 
  • Birth certificate 
  • HC2 certificate 
  • Passport 
  • Travel document 
  • Utility bill 

Registering with a GP is free; once registered, you can see your GP at no charge. If your GP decides you need medicine, you will receive a prescription to take to any pharmacy. 

Registering for a GP in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

You must register as a Health Service patient with the GP surgery to see a doctor.

Registering with a GP practice in Scotland

Registering with a GP practice in Wales

Registering with a GP practice in Northern Ireland

What is an NHS number? 

An NHS number is a unique 10-digit number assigned to everyone registered with the National Health Service (NHS) in England, Wales, and the Isle of Man. It helps healthcare staff identify you correctly and link you to your medical records.

You are not automatically entitled to free use of all NHS services even if you have an NHS number. 

Patients in England must contribute to the cost of their NHS care, such as prescription costs and eye or dental charges, and you will be required to make the same contributions. 

You must have an NHS number to be referred to a bleeding disorder specialist for ongoing care and prescribed treatment. An appointment at a haemophilia centre can only be given following a referral letter from your GP. The letter will give the bleeding disorder specialist essential background information, such as your medical history. It will also contain details the specialist needs to pay particular attention to.

If you have been prescribed treatment/medication for your bleeding disorder, you MUST bring enough supply with you to the UK, as a referral to a local haemophilia centre can take weeks.

Paying for prescriptions

You must pay a prescription charge of £9.90 per item in England. There are certain exceptions to the standard fee charged for NHS prescriptions. If you fall into one of the following categories, you may qualify for free prescriptions:

  • People aged under 16 or over 60
  • People who are pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months (with a maternity exemption certificate)
  • People on certain income-related benefits
  • People with specific medical conditions (with a medical exemption certificate)

You can find the complete list of medical conditions that qualify for a medical exemption certificate on the NHSBSA website

If unsure whether you qualify for a free prescription, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Prescriptions are free in Scotland and Wales but not in Ireland.

  • Scotland and Wales: Prescriptions in these countries are completely free of charge.
  • Ireland: Ireland has a separate healthcare system from the UK and prescriptions are not free. There are charges associated with them, but there are also exemptions available for certain groups of people.

NHS prescription prepayment certificate

The NHS prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) scheme in England can help you save money on your medications. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

There are three types of PPCs, each with a different price:

  • 3-month PPC: This costs £32.05 and saves you money if you need more than three medications in 3 months.
  • 12-month PPC: This costs £114.50 and saves you money if you need more than 11 medications in a year. You can also spread the cost out over 10 monthly instalments of £11.45.
  • HRT PPC: This is for people taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) medications. It costs £19.80 (the same as two prescriptions) and lasts a year.

Getting a PPC is easy! You can do it in a few ways:

  • By phone: Call the NHSBSA on 0300 330 1341.
  • By post: Download an application form NHSBSA and send it by post.

Extra things to know:

  • PPCs only cover England. There are different ways to get help with prescription costs in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
  • PPCs cover all your NHS prescriptions, including dental prescriptions.
  • PPCs don’t cover other healthcare items like wigs or bandages.
  • If you’re on a low income, you can still get help with prescription costs. Ask your pharmacist or doctor for more information.

By getting a PPC, you can save money and take the worry out of paying for your prescriptions.

NHS entitlements to secondary care in England

Hospital treatment is free to people who are ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK. To be considered ordinarily resident and entitled to free hospital treatment, you must be legally and properly settled in the UK. You may be asked to prove this. 

People who are not ordinarily residents are charged for using secondary care services. However, some migrant groups are exempt from ALL NHS charges, including:

  • Non-UK nationals who have temporary leave to remain
  • Reguees and their dependants
  • Asylum seekers and their dependants
  • Some refused asylum seekers
  • Children are looked after by local authority
  • Victims or suspected victims of modern slavery or human trafficking

NHS hospitals must identify and charge overseas patients for the treatment they receive. Hospitals must check documentary evidence of entitlement to prove that you are ordinarily resident in the UK. 

When registering for a clinical appointment, the hospital may ask questions about your residential status to establish your eligibility. All patients admitted to UK hospitals must provide the correct information when registering their details, regardless of nationality and residence status. If you live lawfully and have a settled purpose in the UK or are a visitor to the UK, you should provide evidence. 

You must bring at least one valid document from each of the lists below to your first hospital appointment: 

Proof of identity 

  • Citizen card 
  • Current signed passport 
  • EU or Swiss national identity photo-card 
  • Photographic disabled blue badge 
  • Residence permit issued by the Home Office   
  • Valid armed or police forces photographic identity card 
  • Valid UK photo-card driving licence 

Please note it is best to bring proof of your right to reside in the UK (for example, a UK or EEA passport, EEA national ID photo card, Visa or residence permit issued by the Home Office, Biometric Residence Card or Permit, Asylum Registration Card or valid UK armed or police forces photo ID). This will help determine your eligibility quicker and avoid delays in your treatment. 

Proof of address 

  • Bank, building society or credit union statement or passbook 
  • Council tax bill (valid for the current year) 
  • Current council/housing association rent book or tenancy agreement 
  • Notification letter from Department for Work and Pensions or HM Revenue and Customs confirming your right to benefit or state pension 
  • A recent original mortgage statement from a recognised lender 
  • Recent original utility bill (gas, electric, water, telephone) (mobile not acceptable) 

If you cannot provide the documents, you may have to pay a deposit equal to your treatment’s estimated cost before you receive an appointment or treatment. 

What services are free to everyone?

Some services are free to everyone, even if those who are not ordinarily residents, including:

  • Accident and Emergency services. However, charges will apply if you are transferred to another hospital location, admitted to the hospital as an inpatient, or receive any outpatient appointments.
  • Services provided for the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of suspected infectious diseases like COVID-19, HIV and TB, sexually transmitted infections, family planning services, excluding abortions and fertility treatment.
  • Services for treatment of physical and mental health conditions caused by torture, female genital mutilation, domestic violence or sexual violence.

Dental Treatment

Charges for NHS dental treatment occur for everyone living in England. This means that dental charges will apply unless the treatment is free to remove stitches, stop bleeding in the mouth or repair the denture. However, some people may be entitled to free treatment or help with costs. NHS dental care is free for everyone:-

  • under the age of 18 or 19 if in full-time education
  • people receiving certain benefits
  • women who are pregnant or had a baby in the last 12 months

If you are on a low income or have no access to public funds, and are not receiving or qualify for benefits, you can apply for help with total costs or partial costs of NHS dental care through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Please note that the information on this page is provided by GOV.UK and NHS.UK for general purposes and is subject to change without notice.