Find healthcare services in the UK: NHS and private care

Whether you’re moving to the UK or already living here, explore NHS and private healthcare services to help you find the care you need, from doctors and health insurance to hospitals, pharmacies, maternity services and mental health support. The directory is always free to use.

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2026
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Healthcare

Explore healthcare services by category

Find the healthcare services and support you’re looking for. Browse six categories covering GP services, health insurance, hospitals and clinics, maternity care, mental health support and pharmacies.

Doctors & GPs

Find NHS and private GP services, register with a local doctor and explore options for booking appointments online, by phone or in person.

NHS Services GP Booking Private GPs
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Health Insurance

Compare private and international health insurance options, including plans offering access to private hospitals, specialist treatment and additional healthcare benefits.

Expat Plans International Cover Specialist Access
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Hospitals & Clinics

Explore private hospitals and medical clinics offering specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, treatments and surgery across the UK.

Diagnostics Specialists Surgery
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Maternity Services

Find private maternity services, antenatal care, pregnancy scans and birth-related support to help you explore your options throughout pregnancy.

Antenatal Private Midwives Scans
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Mental Health

Discover counselling, therapy and mental health support, including private professionals and charities offering free advice and guidance.

Therapy Counselling Free Support
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Pharmacies

Find online and high-street pharmacies offering prescriptions, everyday medicines, healthcare products and convenient delivery options.

Online Pharmacy Prescriptions Delivery
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Featured providers

Featured healthcare services

A selection of NHS services, private providers and charities from across the Healthcare categories, each reviewed by our editorial team before listing.

Top Pick
NHS App

The official NHS app, free for anyone aged 13 or over who is registered with a GP surgery in England. Order repeat prescriptions, view your GP health record and, where your surgery offers it, book and manage appointments.

Official NHS App Free to Use Repeat Prescriptions
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Top Pick
Cigna Healthcare

International health insurance built for globally mobile people, with plans that travel with you and give faster access to private specialists and hospitals in the UK.

International Cover Expat Plans Specialist Access
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Top Pick
Mind

A leading UK mental health charity offering information, advice and support, plus a network of local Minds across the country. A trusted, free first port of call if you are struggling.

Charity Free Support Advice Line
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Other providers
myGP

A free app for booking and cancelling GP appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions and viewing your medical record, with tools for managing your family’s healthcare. Optional paid extras include private blood tests.

Free App GP Appointments Repeat Prescriptions
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Pharmica

A UK online pharmacy offering prescription and over-the-counter treatments with fast, discreet delivery — handy for repeat medication while you get set up.

Online Pharmacy OTC & Rx Fast Delivery
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Intus Healthcare

A specialist supplier of sleep-apnoea and CPAP equipment and home medical devices, delivered across the UK — useful if you manage an ongoing condition.

Medical Devices CPAP Home Delivery
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Some links in this section are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. Provider information is provided for general guidance only. Always verify details, pricing and suitability directly with the provider before making any booking or purchase. Our editorial recommendations are made independently.

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From our editorial team

Helpful guides to healthcare in the UK

NHS basics

Healthcare in the UK — hub How the NHS works Registering with a GP Emergency healthcare: A&E and urgent care NHS prescription costs and exemptions NHS waiting times explained The NHS: origins and principles How the NHS is funded

Eligibility & access

NHS eligibility: who can get treatment NHS access without the IHS The NHS volunteering myth Is UK healthcare free and universal? UK healthcare: public or private? Is NHS care good? Quality and outcomes Visiting rights: hospitals and care homes

Private care & insurance

NHS vs private healthcare Do you need health insurance? Healthcare for families moving to the UK UK healthcare for Americans Cost of moving to the UK for Americans Health and Care Worker visa

Romanian community guides

NHS guide for Romanians Getting a National Insurance number Your first 30 days in the UK Health and Care Worker visa for Romanians NHS pentru romani (RO) Primele 30 de zile (RO)
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Questions & answers

Common questions about healthcare in the UK

Find answers to common questions about using the NHS, registering with a GP, private healthcare, health insurance and accessing medical services when moving to or living in the UK.

Access depends on your immigration status. Most people who come to live in the UK on a visa pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of their application, which entitles them to NHS care on broadly the same basis as a resident. Some services, such as emergency treatment and GP registration, are available more widely. Registering with a local GP is usually the first practical step once you have an address.
That is a personal decision. The NHS covers most medical needs without charge at the point of use, but some people choose private insurance for faster access to specialists, shorter waiting times for non-urgent treatment, or private rooms. Newer arrivals and those used to private systems abroad often value the choice. It is worth weighing the cost against how you expect to use healthcare.
You register with a GP surgery in your local area, usually by completing a form online or in person. In England you do not need ID, proof of address, proof of immigration status or an NHS number to register, although a surgery may ask for extra documents for a specific reason. Once registered, your GP is your main route into most NHS services, including referrals to specialists. It is sensible to register soon after you arrive rather than waiting until you are unwell.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee most visa applicants pay as part of their application, giving access to the NHS during their stay. It is usually charged per year of the visa and paid upfront. Once paid, you can use NHS services without further charge for most treatment. The exact amount and who must pay can change, so check the current rules on GOV.UK.
Private GPs and doctor platforms often offer same-day or next-day appointments, including video consultations, which can be faster than securing a routine NHS appointment. Costs vary by provider and whether you pay per appointment or hold insurance. For anything urgent or serious, NHS emergency services remain the right route regardless of whether you also use private care.
Yes. Online pharmacies can dispense both prescription and over-the-counter medicines and deliver them to your door, which is convenient while you are settling in. For NHS prescriptions you will need a valid prescription, and charges may apply in England unless you are exempt. Always use a registered pharmacy and follow medical guidance on any medication.
Support ranges from NHS services, usually accessed through your GP, to private therapists and charities offering free information and helplines. Moving country can be stressful, and you do not need to be in crisis to seek help. Charities can be a good first step if you are unsure where to turn, and many offer guidance in finding the right ongoing support.
NHS maternity care is generally free for those who are ordinarily resident or who have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge, covering antenatal care, birth and postnatal care. Some people choose private maternity services for additional scans, continuity of midwife, or particular birth options. Eligibility can depend on your immigration status, so it is worth confirming your position early in pregnancy.
For a life-threatening emergency, call 999 for an ambulance or go to an Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. For urgent but non-life-threatening issues, NHS 111 can advise by phone or online and direct you to the right service, and many areas have urgent treatment centres. Emergency treatment is provided regardless of immigration status.
Yes. Browsing the Healthcare directory and its listings is completely free. Some provider links are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you sign up or purchase at no extra cost to you, and some providers may pay a listing fee — but neither affects who appears or how we describe them. Our recommendations are made independently, and nothing here is medical advice.
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This page was last updated on 9 November 2026.