3 Tips to Navigate the UK Healthcare System

Moving to the UK during a pandemic meant that healthcare was top of mind. Fortunately the British healthcare system is quite good (it’s all relative of course), especially if you know how to manage it properly. My recommendations below:

1. Register with a GP early

In some parts of the world, you're able to visit any GP as long as you have your identification cards. In the UK you can only get treated by a GP you’re registered with, making it extremely important to choose the right provider. In order to get an NHS number when you first arrive you have to register with a GP.

I highly recommend Babylon GP at hand as your first GP - it’s an online-first app-based doctor with some physical clinics in central London. I found Babylon very helpful to begin with, especially when trying to find our feet and figure out where we would live. I also really liked their triage system - you can opt to see a GP or a nurse or pharmacist depending on your needs. Notes from each consultation are uploaded on the app almost instantly and prescriptions are sent to your local pharmacy.

2. Reassess your GP when you settle down

As much as I loved Babylon, unfortunately there are instances when you need to physically see a doctor. When these come up it’s a hassle to have to travel a long distance, so if you find yourself living outside central London, I recommend finding a local GP. I’ve found that many GPs now combine traditional in person consultations with online appointments/ triage. I really appreciate online appointments for their convenience and timeliness so I recommend selecting a GP which offers this. It usually takes about 1-2 days to switch to a new registered GP

3. Know about prescriptions and Get a PPC

This one is super exciting. As an asthmatic accustomed to buying inhalers at >£20 a pop the concept of discount prescriptions was especially exciting. In the UK, each prescription costs £9.35 per item regardless of what it’s for.

If, however, you need multiple prescriptions every month, I highly recommend buying a Prepayment Prescription Certificate. This gives you an unlimited number of scripts for £30.25 for 3 months or £108.10 for 12 months. Even if you only get 2 prescriptions a month this is a saving of £116 over a year (with the 12 month prepayment). This is pretty amazing. Remember that that the contraceptive pill is free in the UK so don’t count this.

Note, I still recommend bringing enough scripts from home to tide you over for a few months until you get around to getting scripts and also as a backup in case the brand of drug you’re used to isn’t available here.