Where to get medical help in the UK

When it comes to medical care in the UK, you will find that the range of sources from which you can gain medical help are varied. The UK offers free health care for its domestic and EU inhabitants. It also has a range of online and telephone-based resources. In this article, find out where to get medical help in the UK.

Self-help in the UK

If you have a minor medical problem that needs to be addressed, it is best to attempt self-help before approaching a medical professional. Mild conditions such as colds, sudden bouts of insomnia and diarrhoea can usually be addressed at home with the help of online NHS resources and the guidance of your local pharmacist. Web health advice Be careful where you source your web health advice in the UK. Forums are usually based on opinion, as are some articles. It is a better idea to use the self-help section of the NHS direct website or go to Boots WebMD symptom checker. Speak to your pharmacist If you wish to get further expert guidance, it is always a good idea to speak to a pharmacist. Pharmacists have limited medical knowledge, but they can save you a lot of guess work and usually prove to be very useful.

UK medical advice lines

The NHS and NHS Wales now have dedicated advice lines that allow you to gain guidance from medical professionals such as doctors and nurses. The NHS Direct service is a health line where you can gain information about self-help for rashes and minor conditions, as well as further information on where to go for for additional medical treatment if necessary.

Receiving face-to-face medical care

You may find that in the UK you need to get medical help on a face-to-face basis. The NHS provides free service health care and can be accessed through a range of mediums. Visiting a general practitioner If you are a resident in the UK or taking on a long-term stay there, then you may find that you need to visit a general practitioner for health advice. GPs can forward you to other medical departments, administer advice and prescriptions and they also offer routine appointments. Your GP should be your first port of call if you have a concern that can't be addressed at home and that isn't an emergency. Emergency care If you have an accident or an emergency, then you may want to visit your nearest accident and emergency department or call 999 to receive urgent medical care.