ack

[enigmaecho]

so i'm in the UK from USA have travel insurance. I think I have strep throat and have noooo idea what I should do :(

Comments

[missedith01]

Why are you in the UK and for what period?

[enigmaecho]

i'm here till november

[missedith01]

Whether you can get free non-emergency treatment depends on your residence and status not your nationality, which I why I asked why are you here. I hope NHS Direct sorted it out for you!

[kittenista]

Try calling NHS Direct on 0845 4647. I think you can go to an NHS Walk-In centre and see a nurse who can then refer you if needs be. But, call them and they'll be able to give you some advice, hopefully. I've used them a couple of times and found them to be pretty efficient.

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

[enigmaecho]

thanks i called :) they said they will call back soon. ugh i so dont want to go to the doctor in a foreign country and spend tons of money :/

[kittenista]

Are you currently a resident? Like..on a visa or studying or something? Then you don't have to pay anything, you are entitled to NHS treatment.

What I *do* know ...

[the_magician]

... anyone in this country (resident, student, tourist, *anyone* (even just passing through for a day) can use the NHS walk in centres and Accident & Emergency (A&E, the UK name for ER) for FREE.

If they have to prescribe medicine, then there may be a charge (I believe just the standard prescription charge of something like £6.75 per medicine, however if they just hand you some pills then there is no charge for those) and if you have to be admitted to hospital or have to come back for further tests then those can cost money.

Aside from that, anything else I said would be a guess.

Yep

[the_magician]

I think I posted a link in a previous message somewhere in this community, but I'll dig it out again and it should be added to the FAQs (in my opinion)

First bit

[the_magician]

Access to NHS hospital treatment is based on ordinary residence in the United Kingdom. Anyone who is not ordinarily resident is subject to the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989. These regulations place a responsibility on NHS trusts to establish whether a person is ordinarily resident; or exempt from charges under one of a number of exemption categories; or liable for charges. They also provide that certain treatments are exempt from charges in their own right, irrespective of the patient's status. These include treatment given in accident and emergency departments; treatment for certain specified communicable diseases (excluding HIV/AIDS treatment where only the initial diagnostic testing and associated counselling are without charge) and compulsory psychiatric treatment.
link

[curlsue24]

i made a post around november about being sick and someone suggested some kind of medicine (obviously forget the name of it now) but it was like robitussin on crack. worked wonders!

[darth_spacey]

Ah, the wonderful English pharmacy system, where you can get both Codeine and Morphine over the counter. I love it.

[thekumquat]

Morphine OTC???

I think you are mistaken. On prescription, yes.

[darth_spacey]

I think you are mistaken:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100001398.html

[idiotic]

does the paperwork for your insurance not have a helpline phone number? all kinds of travel insurance i've used in the past have a phone number to call if you need medical assistance, and they advise you on what to do. look through your paperwork and see if you can find anything.