What medical support are you entitled to if you’re new to the UK?
What are my rights as a refugee when it comes to healthcare in the UK?
All refugees' and asylum seekers are entitled to NHS care. Wherever you are in the UK; refugees and asylum seekers with an active application or appeal are fully entitled to free NHS care.
Here we explain in more detail, how you can get the care that you need.
Pharmacies
Pharmacists can offer clinical advice and medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains. The pharmacist will let you know if you need to visit a doctor, or direct you to other professionals to make sure you get the help you need. You can also buy medicines for minor illnesses or first-aid supplies in a pharmacy or supermarket.
Find your nearest pharmacy here
Dentists and Opticians
You will need to register for a Dentist or Optician. Here’s how:
But if you’re in pain, you should call 111 for Urgent Dental Care Services
GP practice or medical centre
A GP can offer medical advice, provide a diagnosis and prescribe medicines.
They might be your first point of contact for many physical and mental health concerns too. The GP practice is also responsible for co-ordinating and managing your long-term healthcare and they can refer you if you need more specialised hospital services.
Everyone has the right to register for a GP. You don’t need proof of address, immigration status, ID or an NHS number.
Find your nearest GP practice and register online.
If you are having difficulty registering with a GP you can:
• Download a GP Access Card and show this to the GP receptionist.
• Phone NHS England (0300 311 22 33) or Doctors of the World (0808 1647 686) for help
Community health services (Pregnancy, child health, contraception services)
Some health services are accessed in the community, and not in hospitals. These include mental health, child health and antenatal services and sexual health and family planning clinics. Find out more about community health services and what they look like.
Walk-in or Urgent Treatment centres (Minor injuries or urgent medical advice)
If you need urgent medical care for minor injuries such as cuts, sprains and small fractures, or urgent medical advice, you can directly go to a walk-in or urgent care centre without an appointment. These centres are usually open during daytime hours.
Emergency services (Medical emergency or life-threatening situation)
Call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. The telephone operator will advise you what to do or where to go next. An ambulance may be sent to provide treatment or transport the patient to hospital. Hospital Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments are open 24 hours every day of the year. You can access these services directly and without an appointment.
Emergency mental health (Suicidal thoughts or serious self-harm)
If you have seriously harmed yourself or are about to do so, call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E. If you are thinking about suicide, talk to someone at the Samaritans by calling 116 123.
Have you come from Ukraine?
We have information in Ukranian about how the health system works in the UK.
NHS for Asylum-Seekers – This is a guide to the NHS for asylum-seekers which has been translated into Ukrainian
NHS-guide-for-asylum-seekers-FINAL
To read the information in English click here
How The NHS Works – is a leaflet with images about how the NHS works which has also been translated into Ukrainian and Russian, and can be found by clicking:
IN UKRAINIAN English_How-the-NHS-works-Trifold_UK
In English click here
IN RUSSIAN: Download by clicking here
We have also sourced information in Ukrainian about accessing the 111 service, find out more by clicking here
To access NHS 111 in another language, you just need to say “interpreter” to the call handler and then say the language you wish to communicate in.
The Government has also released a detailed guide for Ukrainians arriving here which gives detailed information about healthcare, and accessing other public services and benefits. Click the links below to access them
An English version in pdf format
An English version in website format
Have you recently arrived in the UK?
Have you received the help and support that you need?
