Know Your Rights
A full list of those able to receive free treatment from General Practitioners (GPs) and Hospitals is available at www.adviceguide.org.uk
While we have no control over the content of this site, it is updated by The Citizens Advice Bureau and contains up to date information.
The following is an overview of who can receive free NHS treatment in the UK.
Accessing Healthcare
Accessing most healthcare services is free to UK citizens.
If you’re not a UK citizen but you fall under certain UK Government classifications you may still be able entitled to NHS treatment for as long as your application to the UK is under consideration. These include:
- Asylum seekers
- Article 3 applicants
- Asylum seekers refused leave to remain but appealing decision
- Asylum seekers denied support under Immigration law, but still claiming asylum
Depending on your immigration status, the types of free treatment available to you may vary. Your entitlement to free NHS treatment depends on the length and purpose of your residence in the UK, not your nationality.
If you are entitled to free NHS hospital treatment, your spouse and any dependent children will also be able to receive free treatment as long they live with you permanently in the UK.
There may be charges for some NHS services, for example, your dental treatment, and you may be entitled to help with these charges.
Any free NHS treatment you receive, or any help with NHS costs, does not affect your immigration status. If you are entitled to it, you can obtain free treatment immediately. There is no qualifying period.
Those individuals with refugee status, discretionary leave and humanitarian protection are also entitled to NHS treatment. Foreign students (unless they are on a course lasting more than six months and the course is full-time) and visitors are only entitled to emergency care and treatment which is immediately necessary.
Healthcare services from the NHS for people foreign to the UK, asylum seekers and Article 3 applicants who have had their applications refused and have exhausted the appeals process are required to pay for their healthcare services.
Treatment that is free for everyone
Some hospital treatment is free of charge for everyone, regardless of how long you have been or intend to stay in the UK.
- Treatment for accidents and emergencies as an outpatient in a hospital’s accident and emergency department. (However, if you are referred to an outpatient clinic or admitted to hospital following your time in an accident and emergency department, you will be charged for this).
- Emergency treatment in a walk-in centre is free of charge in England and Wales only.
- Compulsory psychiatric treatment.
- Treatment for certain communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, cholera, food poisoning, malaria and meningitis.
- Testing for the HIV virus and support following a test are both free of charge, but any necessary subsequent treatment and medicines may have to be paid for depending on your immigration status.
- Family planning services.
If you have children
If you are registered with a GP, then free healthcare for you and your child will start before the child is born. Health visitors, district nurses and midwives may all be available to help.
What documentation will I need to access NHS healthcare?
You are not usually required to show a passport, although some surgeries or hospitals may ask to see it as a form of identification. Confirmation from the UK Home Office explaining your immigration status in the UK is usually enough if you are required to show documentation.
Some doctors might ask to see a national insurance number. Not having one should not stop you from receiving treatment.
HIV testing
HIV testing and support services are free to everyone. However, accessing free HIV medications may depend on your immigration status.
Whether you are entitled to free medications or not, knowing your HIV status can help you to make plans for the future.
There is usually a period of time between infection with HIV and the development of HIV-related illnesses, if left untreated. If you know you are HIV positive, changes in your condition can be monitored and you can make informed decisions about your health. You will also be able to access counselling and support services, should you need them, free of charge to help you when deciding upon your next steps.
Telling your GP
If you have a GP you are not required to tell them you have HIV but if your GP doesn’t know that you have HIV, then you may not be getting the best advice or care.
GPs and their staff are required to uphold client confidentiality and cannot pass your information to a third party unless you ask them too. It is important to think about whether to tell your GP about being HIV positive. Developing a good relationship with your GP is strongly encouraged and if you are not happy with your current GP, your HIV clinic maybe able to advice you on changing to one who will suit your needs.
If you are receiving support from National Asylum Support Service (NASS), the people who are giving you accommodation will give you a list of all GPs that you can see if you need to.
Staff at your HIV Clinic or Sexual Health Clinic are also bound by the same confidentiality laws and are not allowed to talk about you with other agencies, organisations or companies. You can choose to tell the Home Office if you have HIV in order to apply for special consideration to be allowed to remain in the UK because you need HIV medicines and support not available in your home country.
