Staying Healthy

Medical Reports

You should have a health check at least four weeks before you leave for the UK. Don’t leave this to the last minute, as you won’t have enough time to readjust to the medication before starting out on your journey and course of study.

You should also obtain a copy of your chest X-ray report and carry it with your offer letter, as you may have to produce this at passport control. This may avoid having to have another X-ray.

Medical costs in the UK

• If you are on the course lasting more than six months, you are entitled to get treatment from the British National Health Service, including free doctor’s examination and hospital treatment. This service is also available for your spouse and children under 16 (under 19 if they are still in school or college). You should register as a NHS patient and take the letter of acceptance letter from your institution to prove your status.
• You will have to pay a fixed contribution towards prescribed medicine and some other GP services and eye treatment.
• If you are registered with the NHS, you are entitled to the services of an NHS dentist, although dental treatment is not free.
• If you are ill and unable to attend your training course, you must inform your academic tutor of the cause of your illness.

If your course of study is for less than six months, emergency hospital treatment will be provided but only the treatment given in a NHS Accident and Emergency department is free of charge. Once you are admitted on to a ward or given an outpatient appointment, charges will apply. GPs may agree to treat you for free, but this will usually be limited to urgent treatment that cannot be delayed until you return home. You will have to pay for any other treatment as a private patient. It is therefore very important that you take out medical insurance for the duration of your visit to the UK. Otherwise, private treatment without insurance could prove very expensive. You also need to protect your cash and belongings from theft or loss, so you are strongly advised to take out personal property insurance before you leave home. If this is not possible, your bank, or college Welfare Officer, can advise you which policy would suit you best. Make sure you really understand fully the conditions of any insurance policy before you sign any forms.

Dental services

If you're eligible for NHS treatment i.e. if you are in a course of more than six months in duration, you can receive your dental treatment at a reduced rate. Once you've registered with a doctor, register with a local dentist as soon as possible. First of all, however, make sure that the dentist accepts NHS patients - some dentists only accept private patients.

Registering with a GP and obtaining an NHS medical card

You should register with a local doctor (also referred to as a general practitioner or GP) as soon as possible after you arrive at your destination and have permanent address – do not wait until you are ill.

If your college or university has a health centre, go there first.  You may be able to register with a doctor there, or they may be able to recommend a local GP.  You can also get a list of local GPs from your public library.  Alternatively, telephone NHS Direct (0845 4647) and ask for a list of GPs in the area where you live.  This is also available on the NHS direct website - check for different details for Wales/Scotland.

Services and access for disabled people

If you have a disability of any kind, contact your school, college or university before your arrival to find out what facilities will be available for you. Some institutions can make special arrangements that take your disability into account such as allowing you extra time on examinations if writing is physically difficult for you.

For more information about staying healthy, please refer to the Keeping healthy leaflet on the UKCISA.

Emergency Services

In a medical emergency, you should either:

• Telephone for an ambulance – dial 999 (the call is free) or
• Get someone to take you to the nearest hospital with a casualty (accident and emergency) department.

The accident and emergency services provided in the casualty department are free for everyone in the first instance. However, if you are admitted to the hospital for treatment after the accident (because you need more treatment than the casualty department offers), and you are not covered by the NHS, you will have to pay for this treatment.

Keeping healthy

The best way to stay healthy while you are in the UK is the same way to stay healthy when you are at home: eat healthy foods, exercise fairly regularly, and make sure you get enough sleep.

Eating a balanced diet (a selection of foods) can be a challenge when you first arrive – the food in the UK may be very different from what you are used to.

• Try to eat some of the following every day:
• Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables
• Some bread, potatoes, rice, noodles or pasta
• Some protein, such as beans, lentils, eggs, fish or meat
• Some milk, cheese, yoghurt or soy products (e.g. soy milk, tofu).

Try to get some exercise several times a week. Most colleges and universities in the UK offer lots of opportunities to practise your favourite sport or learn a new one. If you don’t like sports, try an exercise class, or go for a long walk.

Travelling to a new country with a different climate and different foods can cause small health upsets. You may develop minor illnesses such as coughs and colds. If you haven’t had these symptoms before, they may seem worrying at first, but don’t be alarmed – these problems are usually easy to treat and advice can be given by a pharmacist a t your local chemist. You may need to make an appointment to see your doctor, and remember to explain any changes in your lifestyle that might be affecting your health.