Working for the NHS is obviously a stressful job and it's likely you will need, at some point, someone to care for you too as a patient. Well worry not because NHS have you covered.
In order for you to be eligible for free NHS treatment you need to go down a proper pathway. The system here is you cannot be directly seen by the specialists unless referred by a General Practitioner or if you land up in A&E. Every individual must be registered with a GP in order to receive their NHS number allowing them to receive the free NHS care. So how to get registered to GP?
Well its pretty simple once when you have sorted your accommodation and know the complete address and post code. Head over to (this website) and enter your post code. Multiple GP services will pop up arrange the results according to the distance. Click the one most nearest to you and find the details and reviews of that surgery (GP service) and give them a call. Tell them your address and ask them if they are taking/registering new patients. If yes ask them how can you register usually you need to come down to the surgery and collect the forms for registration. If they say they aren't accepting new patients then ring the next nearest surgery and repeat the process. The registration forms differ from surgery to surgery. There is one form that's same for all the GP services (GMS1) and there is another one which specific to every surgery some extra info regarding your medical history that GP wants to know. Also confirm if the GP service registers newborns, kids and offers maternity services just in case you need them in future.
(GMS1 form)
Once the forms are completed head over the surgery with your BRP or any type of picture ID for verification. You will be registered in the system. You will be then given an appointment for a nurse before you get to see the GP. Now appointments are hard to come by, GP have long wait times since they are over burdened. So make sure you show up on your appointments or risk waiting weeks. The nurse will take your detailed medical history, do your vitals. Any problems that you have let them the nurse she will put it down in your notes for the GP to see. She might also take some blood for some basic tests. She will then fix you an appointment with a GP, you can request an earlier appointment depending on your needs. Usually you get appointments reminders in your mail you can also sign up for text or email alerts. Remember you can call in any time to arrange urgent appointments or reschedule them. All consultations and blood tests are free of charge, blood testing but prescriptions requires a small fee. Details of it including who is eligible for free prescription are mentioned here.
An advise is to try to get registered as soon as possible with a GP and get into the system, you can always switch to different GP later but getting your NHS number is important! You may need it any time and you might not be able to register at that time. So stay healthy and stay safe!!
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