Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Registering with a doctor and the UK health service
There may be times that you need to access the UK's National Health Service (NHS) for help with an accident or illness. Upon your arrival in we advise you register with a local doctor also known as a General Practitioner or GP who will usually be your first point of contact.Â
On this page you'll find all the information you need to get registered with a doctor and some helpful contacts for accessing the UK health service.
National Health Service (NHS)
The NHS is the UK’s healthcare system providing a wide range of health care services including appointments with a doctor, hospital treatment, emergency care and dental care.
Unlike other countries which have an insurance-based healthcare system, in the UK, our healthcare system is publicly funded.
You may use the facilities of the NHS free of charge if:
- You are coming to the UK to study for more than six months and you have a valid student visa, or
- You are a national of, or a refugee in, a European Economic Area country and you currently reside there, or
- Your country has a reciprocal health agreement with the United Kingdom (you can check with the UKCISA website for further information)
If your family are in the UK as your dependants then they will receive NHS health care on the same basis as yourself.
If you qualify for NHS treatment, you will be entitled to the same benefits as British citizens. This includes free medical consultations with your doctor and free hospital treatment if required.
For prescribed medicines and treatment by a dentist or optician - including eye tests - charges are payable. The single item prescription charge is £9.35.
As a student, you may be eligible for full or partial exemption of NHS charges. To apply for exemption, you should fill in an HC1 form, available from NHS hospitals, walk-in centres and your doctor.
If you come to the UK suffering from a long-term illness or disability which requires hospital treatment, you may be asked to pay for the hospital treatment for your long-term illness or disability. You should bring any relevant information or records with you from home, especially details of any medicines you are taking regularly. Specialist treatment, if required, will be arranged by your GP.
Registering with a doctor
You should register with a doctor's surgery shortly after arriving in Leeds. Doctors are based in GP practices and are the first point of call if you fall ill or need health advice.
When registering with a local doctor you will be asked to provide your passport details and a letter from Leeds Beckett to say you are a full-time student. This letter is called a confirmation of enrolment and you can request this on the Requesting official letters webpage. Depending on where you are from, you will also need the following:
Non-EU students
Your IHS number which was given to you when you received your student visa. This entitles you to free healthcare in the UK including a GP, hospital treatment or emergency care.
EU and EEA students
If you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) prior to coming to the UK, please visit the UKCISA website for information about using this to access NHS services.
We recommend a few GP practices that are close to student accommodation based in the city of Leeds and Headingley.
City centre
Headingley
To find more practices near you, use the postcode options via the NHS website.
Watch this video for information on registering with a doctor.
What service should I use if I get ill?
You may be feeling a little unwell or you may be dealing with something much more serious and it's important you know who to speak to. This guide will give information to help you access the right service.
If you are suffering from a cough, cold or sore throat you can buy medicine from a chemist (pharmacy) without a doctor’s prescription to treat these symptoms. You may be able to purchase ‘alternative’ medicines from health food stores and herbalist shops.
If your illness appears to be more serious, you should see a doctor as soon as possible and describe your symptoms clearly. Many surgeries have female as well as male doctors. If you would prefer to see a female doctor, please tell the receptionist, but you may have to wait longer for an appointment.
Keep your doctor’s surgery’s telephone number handy, in case you need to call for help during the night. This should only be done in an emergency. At night and at weekends you will be seen by the Deputising Service and not your regular GP.
NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do.
Depending on the situation you’ll:
- Find out what local service can help you
- Be connected to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
- Get a face-face appointment if you need one
- Be told how to get any medicine you need
- Get self-care advice
You can access this service by phoning 111 or visiting 111.nhs.uk (for people aged 5 and over only). You can ask for a translator if you need one.
You may need to visit an Accident and Emergency (A&E) department and these are situated within hospitals. The departments are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have a serious injury or illness you will be seen by a doctor on duty and advised about treatment. If you go to A&E with a condition which is not serious, you may have to wait a couple of hours to be seen.
There are two NHS funded hospitals in Leeds, which both have Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments:
- Leeds General Infirmary (LGI)
Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3EX - St. James University Hospital
Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF
If you are in a medical emergency, you should call 999.
The call is free and can be made from mobile phones even if you have run out of credit. You should only request an ambulance if you have had an accident or are seriously ill and cannot contact your doctor.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
If you do not fall into one of these categories - if, for example, you are a non-EU national, or on a course for less than six months, then you must consider getting private health insurance before travelling to the UK. This is very important as private treatment without insurance can be extremely expensive! More information about private health insurance can be found on Endsleigh Insurance's website.
Your EHIC lets you get state healthcare at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. It will cover you for treatment that is needed to allow you to continue your stay until your planned return. It also covers you for treatment of pre-existing medical conditions and for routine maternity care, as long as you’re not going abroad to give birth. Please choose one of the options below that best fits your need.
A smartphone application is available for iOS, Android and Windows mobiles, which includes information in 24 languages on how to use the EHIC in all the participating countries. It includes general information about the card, emergency phone numbers, covered treatments and costs, how to claim reimbursement and who to contact in case you have lost your card. It does not replace the card, which is still needed.
NHS dentists in Leeds have very long waiting lists, often several months at least, so it is best that you remain with your dentist in your home country.
If you would like to register on a waiting list for an NHS dentist, or if you need emergency dental treatment, call the Leeds Dental Advice Line on 0800 298 5787. It is open between 09:00 and 17:00 Monday to Friday.
