The National Health Service (NHS) provides a range of healthcare services - most for free, some for a fee - including:
- Doctors' surgeries: doctors or general practitioners (GPs) are the first point of contact for any medical treatment. They provide advice (e.g. on smoking and diet), run clinics (e.g. for pregnant women), give vaccinations and carry out simple surgical operations.
- Dentistry: dentists provide check-ups and carry out dental treatment (e.g. fillings, extractions and polishing). Many dental practices take only private patients but some also accept NHS patients. You will need to pay for most dental work; NHS dentists are usually cheaper.
- Opticians: or optometrists carry out eye tests to check the quality of your sight, look for signs of eye diseases, prescribe and fit glasses and contact lenses.
- Pharmacies: pharmacists or chemists are available for you to order and pick up medications or prescriptions. You can ask a pharmacist if you have a simple query regarding a medicine or treatment.
- Hospitals or specialist treatment: except in the case of emergencies, hospital treatment is arranged through your doctor. If you think you need to see a specialist, talk to your doctor and ask for a referral.
More information on the NHS is available from their website.