We want to make sure you're safe and well during your time at London Met. Here are a few things you should be aware of when it comes to healthcare in the UK.
Registering with a doctor
You should register with a local General Practitioner (GP) practice as soon as possible and preferably before you actually need to see a doctor about an illness. You can can find a list of your local GPs on the National Health Service (NHS) website. Check the range of services offered by each of the GP practices so that you can make an informed choice about which practice to register with. You may want to consider whether there are both male and female doctors and whether there are additional services and clinics offered.
If medicines are prescribed by a doctor a prescription charge is made per item, which is currently £9.35.
If you're not eligible for free healthcare you're strongly advised to take out private medical insurance from a reputable company to cover yourself and any dependants before you leave home.
Student visa holders will have paid for the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) at the time of visa application which gives access to the UK's NHS for the validity of their leave period.
There are also local walk-in clinics which allow you to turn up and wait to see a doctor or nurse, and then pay on the spot.
Medical history
If you'll be registering with a doctor, please ensure you bring the following information for yourself and your family (if they're coming with you):
- details of any past illnesses requiring medical treatment
- a full record of past immunisations
- adequate medication to cover the first few weeks at University (if you're currently taking medicines)
Dentists
If you're eligible for NHS treatment, you'll also be eligible for treatment by a dentist accepting NHS patients (although this is not free treatment it is cheaper than private treatment).
Eye tests and opticians
Eye tests are available at opticians, which can be found on the local high street. You'll have to pay a charge of around £25 (on average) for an eye test. You'll also need to pay for lenses and frames which can cost from £35 to over £350 depending on the opticians.
