The NHS is the UK’s state health service and provides medical treatment through three main routes:
1. General Practitioners (GPs – Doctor) Surgery, Clinic or Health Centre: When you arrive, you should register with a GP’s (doctor) surgery in the area in which you live. Your GP is usually the first point of contact for medical treatment. Most illnesses and other problems can be treated by a GP, but if you need to see a specialist, the GP will refer you to the appropriate hospital department.
2. Hospitals: If your GP refers you to a hospital for treatment, you will usually be sent an appointment to see a specialist doctor at a hospital. You may be seen as an in-patient (where you stay at the hospital for treatment) or as an out-patient (where you visit the hospital each time you require treatment).
3. Accident and Emergency (A&E) Departments: Some (but not all) hospitals have A&E departments. These departments are open 24 hours a day and deal with patients needing emergency treatment. If you have an accident or urgent medical problem you can go to the A&E department – you do not need to make an appointment, but you may have to wait for more than an hour before being seen by a doctor.
