Tel: 02074875244
Out of Hours: 111
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Overseas Visitors
Primary care is free for all and the first point of contact for most people. It is delivered by a wide range of independent contractors, such as general practitioners (GPs), dentists, pharmacists and optometrists, through NHS walk-in centres and the NHS 111 telephone service.
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Hospital treatment is free to people classed as “ordinarily resident” in the UK. This is not dependent on nationality, payment of UK taxes, National Insurance (NI) contributions, being registered with a GP, having an NHS Number or owning property in the UK.
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To be considered ordinarily resident, and entitled to free hospital treatment, you must be living in the UK on a lawful and properly settled basis for the time being – you may be asked to prove this.
Non-EEA nationals who are subject to immigration control are not classed as ordinarily resident unless they have indefinite leave to remain.
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For more information please see here.
Temporary Residents
If you are ill while away from home or if you are not registered with a doctor but need to see one you can receive emergency treatment from the local GP practice for 14 days. After 14 days you will need to register as a temporary or permanent patient.
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You can be registered as a temporary patient for up to three months. This will allow you to be on the local practice list and still remain a patient of your permanent GP. After three months you will have to re-register as a temporary patient or permanently register with that practice.
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To register as a temporary patient simply contact the local practice you wish to use. Practices do not have to accept you as a temporary patient although they do have an obligation to offer emergency treatment. You cannot register as a temporary patient at a practice in the town or area where you are already registered.