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Healthcare in the UK --英國的醫療


NHS (National Health Service)

Seeing a Doctor

睇醫生


  • Need to register with a General Practice (GP) Surgery.

  • GP Surgery will only take in patients within a certain post code area.

  • Search your local GP Surgery

( https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/GP/LocationSearch/5 )

  • Some GPs cannot take in new patients.

  • Speak to your neighbours or friends who live in the same area to see which GP they use as recommendation.

  • Go online and see comments about the surgery.

  • Some surgery might have more services than the others – do your research.

  • You can always switch to a different GP if you don’t like your current one.

  • It is free of charge to see the doctor (NHS service).


  • 需要去家庭醫生 (General Practice, GP) 診所 (Surgery) 進行登記

  • GP Surgery只接受居住在區內的市民 (睇post code)

  • 可以上網查看你附近的 GP Surgery

( https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/GP/LocationSearch/5 )

  • 有些 GP Surgery 可能無法接受新的申請 (Full 咗!)

  • 需要找叧一間診所

  • 可以問問鄰居或朋友他們是用邊間診所

  • 可以上網查看診所的評論

  • 某些診所可能比其他診所提供更多的醫療服務 (要做Research!)

  • 如果您不喜歡現在的 GP Surgery,您是可以換去另一間

  • 在英國睇醫生是免費 (NHS 服務)


 

Register at a GP

登記


  • Physically register at the GP surgery

  • With COVID-19 – fill in an online registration form GMS1

  • ID – BNO passport / driving licence

  • Proof of address – driving licence / utility bills / bank statement

  • NHS number – you should have this after paying the immigration health surcharge (IHS)


  • 親身去診所進行登記

  • 可以上網去診所網站進行登記 - 填寫GMS1表格 (因爲COVID-19)

  • 需要ID – BNO護照/駕駛執照

  • 住址證明–駕駛執照/水電煤單/銀行月結單

  • NHS號碼 - 當你支付 immigration health surcharge 費用之後 , 你將會得到這個號碼







 



What to Expect From the Healthcare (NHS) in the UK?

在英國睇醫生的經驗


● It is different to Hong Kong.

● Some areas might be hard to get a GP appointment, especially in high population areas.


● Different surgeries have different rules ~ often call in the morning or queue in and register at the surgery.


● If your illness is minor, then you will get to see a nurse or paramedic (they have authority to issue prescriptions if you need medicines).


● If you have a normal cold, unless you have a cold for a week or more, and you have some symptoms and the condition is worsen, the doctor will then prescribe you the medicine (unlike Hong Kong).


If you visit a GP for a normal cold,

  • Advise from GP is – go and drink some more water with honey and lemon

  • No medicine will be given to you, unless you really need it (Such as antibiotics)

  • Best to have some medicine at home (bring it from Hong Kong, buy some cough medicine, paracetamol, ibuprofen)


● Make your own decision – it is always worth calling you GP surgery and get advice when you feel ill.


● Your GP will write a referral if you require a specialist and you will be referred to your nearest hospital for appointments.


● Some GPs can provide a different language (will need to check!)


● If you need interpretation and translation services in Cantonese – you can always let the surgery know you need this service during your appointment. The surgery has a system

which they can call for interpretation over the phone.


● 與香港有不同

● 有些地區可能唔容易預約 GP 醫生,特別是在人口稠密地區。


● 不同的 GP surgeries 有不同的規則 ~ 經常在早上打電話或排隊等候。


● 如果病情不是太嚴重,好大機會是睇護士或救護員 (如果您需要藥物,他們有權開處方)


● 如果您患了正常感冒,除非您感冒了一個星期或以上,並且出現了某些症狀而且

情況變差了 ,醫生先會開藥 (與香港不同)。


如果您去看普通的感冒 :

  • 他們會建議去飲蜂蜜檸檬水

  • 不會特別開藥 – 徐非真是有需要 (例如抗生素)

  • 最好家中買定一些藥 (從香港帶回來 或 買定一些咳藥水,撲熱息痛 [Paracetamol, Panadol],布洛芬 [Ibuprofen])


● 到最後自己作出決定–如果唔舒服就打電話俾GP


● 睇專科 – GP 會寫轉介信,轉介到最近的醫院排隊睇專科


● 有一些GP Surgery可以提供翻譯 (需要向GP Surgery 查詢)


● 如果您需要廣東話的翻譯服務,您可以在預先通知 GP Surgery。他們有一個

系統可以通過電話要求翻譯員。




 

NHS~ Walk-In Centre


If your GP is unavailable, there is the Walk-In centre:


  • The Walk-In centre will be called Urgent treatment centre from autumn 2020, can be used to treat minor illnesses and injuries.

  • It is often managed by nurses but some centre do have access to doctors.

  • They're open early till late, and most are open 365 days a year and offer advice and treatment without the need for an appointment.


如果您不能預約你的GP,有一個 Walk-In centre:


  • Walk-In centre 將從2020年秋季開始稱為緊急治療中心 (Urgent Treatment Centre), 可用於治療輕微疾病和傷患。

  • 它通常由護士管理,但某些中心確實可以與醫生接觸。

  • 他們營業時間從早到晚,大多數營業時間為一年365天,無需預約即可提供建議和治療。


Find your nearest Walk In centre:

找您最近的 Walk In centre:

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/Walk-in%20centre/LocationSearch/663


More information on when to visit a Walk-In centre:

有關何時訪問 Walk-In centre 的更多信息:

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care/when-to-visit-an-urgent-care-centre/

 

NHS 111


● This is free for non-emergency conditions – Call 111

● You can use this service when:

  • During out of hours when your surgery is closed (evening / weekends)

  • If you haven’t registered with a GP yet and need medical help

  • During the day when you are not close to your GP

● NHS 111 will connect to the call centre in your area.

● They can arrange appointments in hospitals for you to see doctors or send paramedics.


● 非緊急情況 – 致電111 (免費)

● 您可以在以下情況下使用NHS 111:

  • GP Surgery 休息 (晚上/週末)

  • 如果您還未去 GP Surgery登記並需要睇醫生

  • 您不在您的GP Surgery附近 (e.g. 去了另一個地區)

● NHS 111將連接到您所在地區的呼叫中心

● 他們可以安排您去醫院/診所睇醫生




 

Emergency

緊急情況


  • Call 999

  • A&E – free of charge (NHS service)


  • 致電999

  • 急症室 (A&E) – 免費 (NHS服務)



 

Medicine


● You will need to pay for medicines in England, which is different to Hong Kong. However, the NHS prescriptions in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are free!


● Some medicines can be purchased over the counter (not controlled).

  • Sometimes it is cheaper to purchase them from the pharmacy directly rather than using a prescription.

  • Always ask the pharmacist if you can purchase the medicine without prescription. Examples: eye drops, paracetamol, ibuprofen


● 英格蘭與香港不同,您需要支付藥費。蘇格蘭、威爾斯和北愛爾蘭的NHS藥物是免費的。


● 有一些藥品可以直接跟藥房買 [over the counter] (不需要醫生開)

  • 可以問藥劑師是否可以不需處方就購買藥物

  • 有時直接跟藥房買會比用NHS prescription 處方價錢更便宜 (e.g. 眼藥水,撲熱息痛 [Paracetamol, Panadol],布洛芬 [Ibuprofen])

  • 要有醫生處方的藥物 (e.g. 抗生素)


● Some are prescription medicines (e.g. antibiotics)

  • £9.35 per item

● 買處方藥物 = 每樣£9.35


(price in April 2021)


( https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/nhs-services-and-treatments/how-much-nhs-prescription-charge/ )


If you need medicine regularly (e.g. every month):

  • Consider purchasing an NHS prescription prepayment certificate (PPC) .

  • https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/buy-prescription-prepayment-certificate/start

  • You get an unlimited number of prescriptions.

  • £30.25 for 3 months (price in April 2021)

  • £108.10 for 12 months (or 10 Direct Debit instalments of £10.81) (price in April 2021)

  • You show your certificate at the pharmacy counter when they ask you whether you need to pay for your prescription

  • If you don’t have your PPC yet but planning to get one / hasn’t arrived yet – ask the pharmacist for the FP57 form (NHS refund form) !

  • ■ Pay for the prescription first

  • ■ When your PPC arrives – bring this FP57 form to get your money back

  • ■ You must do this at the time you collect and pay for your prescription!

  • ■ You must claim your refund within 3 months of your paying.


如果你時常需要買藥 (例如每月)

  • 可以考慮購買 NHS prescription prepayment certificate (PPC)

https://services.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/buy-prescription-prepayment-certificate/start

  • 冇限制處方藥物數量

  • £30.25 – 3個月 (價錢04/2021)

  • £108.10 – 12個月 (分期10個月付款 – 每個月£10.81) (價錢04/2021)

  • 當藥房問您是否需要支付處方藥物時,您需要出示你的PPC

  • 如果您還沒有PPC,但打算購買/尚未收到,請向藥劑師索取FP57表格(NHS退款表格!)

  • ■ 首先支付處方費用

  • ■ 您必須在付錢時問藥劑師拿FP57表格

  • ■ 當您收到您的PPC時,請帶你的FP57表格一齊去藥房取回您的錢

  • ■ 您必須3個月內申請退款


Some people get free prescription:

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-with-health-costs/get-help-with-prescription-costs/

  • are 60 or over

  • are under 16

  • are 16 - 18 and in full-time education

  • are over 18 and in full-time education (need to fill in the HC2 form)

  • are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx)

  • have a specified medical condition and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)

  • have a continuing physical disability that prevents you going out without help from another person and have a valid medical exemption certificate (MedEx)

  • hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability

  • are an NHS inpatient