How Healthcare Works In The UK
Visitors generally have two routes to medical care: public healthcare and private healthcare.
Public healthcare
Public healthcare is provided through the UK’s publicly funded health services. In England, Scotland and Wales, this is usually referred to as the NHS. In Northern Ireland, it is officially called Health and Social Care, or HSC Northern Ireland.
The public system includes GP practices, pharmacies, urgent care services, accident and emergency departments, hospital care and specialist services. NHS 111 also provides urgent medical advice in England.
Private healthcare
Private healthcare is paid for by the patient, through private medical or travel insurance, or by an assistance company. It can include GP consultations, prescriptions, tests, referrals, hospital treatment and home or hotel visits.
For visitors who need non-emergency GP care, Doctorcall removes much of the uncertainty. One call gives you access to a private GP at the place where you are staying, or by phone or video, without having to register with a local practice or travel across an unfamiliar area.
Can Visitors Use The NHS?
Visitors can use some NHS services, but access and charging rules are not always simple.
In England, accident and emergency services are generally free at the point of use. If you are admitted to hospital or receive further inpatient or outpatient treatment, you may be charged if you are not entitled to free NHS hospital care.
GP and nurse consultations in NHS primary care are also free of charge in England, including for people seen as temporary patients. The practical difficulty is finding a local practice, registering and securing a suitable appointment while you are only in the country for a short time.
Seeing an NHS GP does not automatically mean that every prescription, test, hospital treatment or specialist service that follows will be free.
For international visitors, entitlement to free NHS care may depend on:
Check the official guidance for the nation you are visiting and review your travel insurance before your trip. If you become unwell and need non-emergency GP care, Doctorcall can provide a much more direct route.
Public Healthcare vs Private Healthcare In The UK
Public and private healthcare offer different routes to medical care in the UK. The services, costs and availability of private providers vary. This comparison includes Doctorcall as one example of private GP care.
Cost
Public healthcare
Many public healthcare services are free at the point of use for people entitled to NHS care. Charges can still apply to services such as prescriptions, dental treatment and eye care, while overseas visitors may be charged for some hospital treatment. The rules differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Private healthcare
Private care is usually paid for by the patient, through insurance or by another organisation. Doctorcall is a paid private service. Patients can pay directly, use eligible travel insurance or have care arranged through an assistance company. Check whether your insurer requires approval before treatment.
Access And Availability
Public healthcare
Public healthcare services prioritise patients according to clinical need. Waiting times and appointment availability depend on the service, location and urgency of the medical problem.
Private healthcare
Appointment times and opening hours vary between private providers. Doctorcall’s private GP service is available 24 hours a day, including nights, weekends and bank holidays.
Emergency Care
Public healthcare
Public healthcare provides emergency ambulance and hospital services. Call 999 or go to A&E if someone has serious or life-threatening symptoms.
Private healthcare
Private GP services are not a replacement for emergency care. Doctorcall provides non-emergency GP care and will advise a patient to use the relevant emergency service if urgent hospital treatment is needed.
GP Access
Public healthcare
Patients usually access an NHS GP through a local practice. Visitors may be able to register as temporary patients, although appointment availability will depend on the practice.
Private healthcare
Private GP care does not normally require registration with an NHS practice. With Doctorcall, patients can arrange a home or hotel visit or speak to a GP by phone or video.
Where Care Is Provided
Public healthcare
Depending on the medical problem, patients may need to attend a GP practice, pharmacy, urgent treatment centre or hospital. Telephone and online advice services are available in parts of the UK.
Private healthcare
The location and format of care depend on the provider. Doctorcall can arrange GP visits to homes, hotels and temporary accommodation across Great Britain and Ireland, as well as consultations by phone or video.
Prescriptions And Further Care
Public healthcare
An NHS clinician may issue a prescription, request tests or make a referral following an assessment. Eligibility and charges depend on the service, the patient’s circumstances and the part of the UK in which care is provided.
Private healthcare
Private providers may offer prescriptions, tests and referrals, with separate charges sometimes applying. Following an assessment, a Doctorcall GP may issue a private prescription, arrange tests, make a referral or recommend further care if clinically suitable.
When Should You Use NHS Emergency Services?
Always use emergency services for serious or life-threatening symptoms.
Call 999 or go to A&E if someone has:
If you are in England and need urgent advice for a problem that is not life-threatening, NHS 111 can direct you to an appropriate service.
Do not wait for a private GP visit if the symptoms are serious. Call 999.
When Should You Contact Doctorcall?
Contact Doctorcall when you need non-emergency medical care and want to speak to a GP without the delay and inconvenience of finding a local practice.
Doctorcall can help if you:
A Doctorcall GP can assess your symptoms, review your medical history and advise you on what to do next. This may include self-care advice, a private prescription, tests, a referral or urgent escalation.
For hotel guests, a visit from Doctorcall means you can receive medical care in the privacy of your room rather than travelling across an unfamiliar town or city while unwell.
What About Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance may cover unexpected medical costs, including Doctorcall consultations, hospital treatment, prescriptions, tests, repatriation and help arranged through an assistance company.
Every policy is different. Some insurers require you to contact them before arranging private treatment. You may also need receipts, medical reports or proof of treatment when making a claim.
Before travelling, check:
Private healthcare usually requires payment upfront unless the treatment has been arranged directly through an insurer or assistance company.
Healthcare Rules Vary Across The UK
The UK includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Public healthcare services and charging arrangements vary between them, so guidance written for England may not apply in exactly the same way elsewhere.
If you are travelling between different parts of the UK, check the official guidance for the nation where you are staying, particularly if you may need hospital treatment or continuing care.
Doctorcall offers one consistent point of contact for non-emergency GP care. Our home and hotel visiting service operates across Great Britain and Ireland, and phone and video consultations are available more widely.
How Doctorcall Helps Overseas Visitors
Doctorcall has provided private medical care since 1989. Today, we support holidaymakers, business travellers, families, hotel guests, insurers and assistance companies with access to experienced GPs, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
We can help with:
You do not need to search for a different private GP in every city you visit. Wherever you are staying within our home and hotel visiting area, contact Doctorcall and we can arrange the care you need.
What To Do If You Feel Unwell While Visiting The UK
Decide Whether It Is An Emergency
Call 999 or go to A&E for serious or life-threatening symptoms. Do not wait for a GP appointment.
Check Your Travel Insurance
If it is not an emergency, check whether your insurer needs to approve private care before you book it.
Contact Doctorcall
For non-emergency GP care, call Doctorcall directly. We can arrange a visit at your hotel, home or temporary accommodation, or a consultation by phone or video.
Ask Your Hotel To Contact Us
If you are staying in a hotel, the concierge or front desk can contact Doctorcall for you. Our hotel visiting service is available across Great Britain and Ireland, not only in London.
FAQs
Can tourists see a doctor in the UK?
Yes. For serious or life-threatening symptoms, call 999 or go to A&E. For non-emergency private GP care, Doctorcall can arrange a home or hotel visit across Great Britain and Ireland, or a consultation by phone or video, 24/7/365.
Is NHS healthcare free for visitors?
Some NHS services are free to everyone, but visitors may be charged for other treatment depending on their circumstances. In England, A&E services are generally free at the point of use, but hospital admission and further inpatient or outpatient treatment may be chargeable. Check the official guidance and your travel insurance policy.
Can I see a private GP while visiting the UK?
Yes. Contact Doctorcall and we can arrange private GP care at your hotel, home or temporary accommodation, or by phone or video. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Can a doctor come to my hotel?
Yes. Doctorcall arranges hotel visits across Great Britain and Ireland, not only in London. A GP can visit you in your hotel room, so you do not have to travel while unwell.
What should I do if I become ill on a business trip?
Call 999 if it is an emergency. For a non-emergency illness or minor injury, contact Doctorcall. We can arrange a hotel or home visit, or a phone or video consultation, 24/7/365.
Can I use travel insurance to pay for Doctorcall?
Some travel insurance policies cover private GP care, including hotel visits. Check whether your policy requires approval before treatment and what documents you will need when making a claim.
Can Doctorcall help children and older travellers?
Yes. Doctorcall provides private GP care for adults and children. Our visiting service can be particularly helpful when a child or older relative is too unwell to travel from the hotel or accommodation.
Can I get a private prescription as a visitor?
A Doctorcall GP may issue a private prescription following a consultation if it is clinically suitable. This depends on your symptoms, medical history, the medicine requested and UK prescribing rules.
Need A Doctor While Visiting The UK?
For non-emergency medical care, contact Doctorcall. We can arrange a private GP visit at your hotel, home or temporary accommodation across Great Britain and Ireland, or a consultation by phone or video.