## Learning Outcomes

- Explain what the NHS is and how it is funded and used in daily life
- Identify the role of a GP and how to register with a GP surgery
- Distinguish between NHS 111, A&E, urgent treatment services, and 999/112 emergencies
- Recall what care is usually free and where costs can apply (including prescription charges)

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand how UK healthcare and emergency services work in everyday life, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Know what the NHS is and that it provides healthcare funded mainly through taxation
- Explain the role of a GP as the first point of contact for most health problems and the importance of registering with a local GP practice
- Identify what NHS 111 is used for and when you should call 999 (or 112)
- Understand what A&E is for and why you should not use it for minor problems
- Know that some NHS services are free for everyone (such as emergency treatment and GP consultations) and that other services may involve charges (for example, prescriptions in England)

## Test Your Knowledge

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. What does the NHS provide, and how is it mainly funded?
2. What is the main role of a GP, and why should you register with one?
3. When should you use NHS 111 instead of A&E?
4. What phone number should you call for a life-threatening emergency, and what alternative number also works?
5. In which parts of the UK are NHS prescriptions generally free, and where do many adults usually pay?

## Introduction

Healthcare is one of the everyday services that many people use soon after arriving in the UK. The National Health Service (NHS) provides most healthcare, and it also links closely to emergency services such as ambulances and hospital emergency departments.

For the Life in the UK Test, you need to know the basic structure: the NHS provides healthcare, GPs are usually your first contact, and different services exist for urgent and emergency situations. You also need to know which number to call, and when.

> **Key Term: NHS (National Health Service)**
> The UK’s publicly funded healthcare system, providing services such as GP care, hospital treatment, and emergency care.

### The NHS and how healthcare is organised

The NHS provides a wide range of services, including:

- GP services (local doctors)
- hospital care (including planned operations and specialist clinics)
- maternity services
- mental health services
- vaccinations and screening programmes
- emergency care (ambulances and hospital emergency departments)

Although healthcare policy is devolved (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland run their health services), the overall idea is similar across the UK: most care is available to residents, and you access many services through your GP or through urgent and emergency care routes.

The NHS is funded mainly through taxation. Money raised through Income Tax and National Insurance helps pay for public services, including healthcare.

> **Key Term: National Insurance Contributions**
> Payments made by workers and employers to help fund state benefits and services, including the NHS.

Some NHS services are free at the point of use for people who are entitled to NHS care. In everyday test questions, you are usually expected to understand the general principle that healthcare is publicly funded, and that you should use the right service in the right situation.

There can also be charges for certain services. The most tested example is prescriptions:

- In **England**, many adults pay prescription charges unless they are exempt.
- In **Scotland**, **Wales**, and **Northern Ireland**, NHS prescriptions are generally free.

> **Test Tip:** If a question asks about differences within the UK, remember the clear one: prescription charges apply in England, but prescriptions are generally free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

### GPs and registering with a local doctor

For most health problems, the first step is to contact a GP practice.

> **Key Term: GP (General Practitioner)**
> A local doctor who provides primary care and is usually the first person you speak to about a health problem.

A GP’s role includes:

- diagnosing and treating common illnesses (for example, infections)
- managing long-term conditions (for example, asthma or diabetes)
- giving vaccinations and health advice
- issuing prescriptions
- referring patients to hospital specialists when needed

Being registered with a GP practice is important because it makes it easier to get routine appointments and referrals, and it helps you access services such as vaccinations.

How to register is simple in principle:

1. Choose a GP practice (usually close to where you live)
2. Contact the practice and ask to register as a patient
3. Complete the registration forms and any new-patient questionnaire

Many practices have an “area boundary” (a local catchment area). This means a practice can usually accept patients who live within a set area, although rules can vary and practices can sometimes accept people outside their area.

A common misunderstanding is that you always need documents to register. In practice, GP surgeries may ask for identification or proof of address, but registration should not be used as an immigration check in the way many people expect, and lack of documents should not be a barrier to receiving primary care.

> **Test Tip:** Life in the UK questions often check practical knowledge. If you are asked who to contact first for non-emergency medical issues, the safest answer is usually “your GP”.

### NHS 111, urgent care, and A&E

The UK has different services for different levels of urgency. You are expected to know which service matches which need.

#### NHS 111: urgent advice and the right service

NHS 111 is a service that provides urgent medical advice when you are not sure what to do, especially when your GP is closed or you cannot get a quick appointment.

> **Key Term: NHS 111**
> A phone and online service that gives urgent medical advice and directs you to the right NHS service when it is not life-threatening.

NHS 111 can:

- advise you on self-care (what to do at home)
- tell you to contact your GP
- direct you to an out-of-hours service
- arrange an appointment at an urgent treatment centre
- tell you to go to A&E, or to call 999 if the situation is dangerous

Using 111 helps reduce pressure on A&E departments by sending people to the correct service.

#### Urgent Treatment Centres and walk-in services

An Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) treats health problems that need attention quickly but are not life-threatening.

Typical examples include:

- minor fractures or sprains
- cuts that may need stitches
- minor burns
- infections that need same-day assessment
- sudden illness that is worrying but not immediately dangerous

In many areas, urgent care works best if you contact NHS 111 first, because it can book you into the right service and reduce waiting.

You may also hear the term “walk-in centre”. This is often a local name for a type of urgent care service. Some accept walk-ins, while others encourage people to contact NHS 111 first.

#### A&E: hospital emergency departments

A&E is the hospital department for serious emergencies.

> **Key Term: A&E (Accident & Emergency)**
> The hospital emergency department for serious injuries and life-threatening or potentially life-threatening conditions.

You should use A&E for situations such as:

- suspected heart attack (for example, severe chest pain)
- suspected stroke (for example, face drooping, arm weakness, speech problems)
- severe breathing difficulty
- heavy bleeding that will not stop
- serious head injury
- loss of consciousness
- severe allergic reaction

A&E departments are open 24 hours a day. However, they are designed for emergencies, so people are expected to use other services (GP, pharmacy, urgent treatment) for minor problems.

### 999 (and 112) and the emergency services

The UK has emergency services that respond to urgent dangers and serious incidents. The emergency telephone number is 999, and 112 also works.

> **Key Term: 999 (or 112)**
> The UK emergency telephone number used to contact emergency services such as the ambulance service, police, or fire and rescue.

You should call 999 (or 112) when:

- someone’s life is at risk
- a serious illness or injury requires immediate help
- there is immediate danger to the public

If you need an ambulance, you call 999/112 and request the ambulance service.

In the UK, the main emergency services are:

- ambulance service (medical emergencies)
- police (crime, public safety, danger)
- fire and rescue service (fires, some rescues, road traffic collisions)

You are not expected to memorise complex medical rules for the test. What matters is knowing the clear difference:

- **999/112** is for emergencies and immediate danger
- **111** is for urgent medical advice when it is not life-threatening

> **Test Tip:** If a multiple-choice question offers 999 and 111, look for the key phrase. “Life-threatening” or “immediate danger” points to 999. “Urgent advice” or “not sure what to do” points to 111.

### Paying for care: what is free and what may cost money

In daily life, many NHS services are provided without direct charges at the time you use them, but there are important exceptions and differences across the UK.

Common points you should know for the test include:

- **GP consultations** are generally free.
- **Emergency treatment** is available, and A&E is there for serious emergencies.
- **Prescriptions**:
  - **England**: many people pay (unless exempt)
  - **Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland**: generally free
- Other costs can exist in some situations (for example, some dental treatment, some optician services, and prescription charges in England).

The test typically focuses more on correct use of services than on detailed charging rules. If you see a question about what to do when you are ill, the expected answer is usually about using your GP or NHS 111, and using A&E/999 only for genuine emergencies.

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- The NHS is the UK’s publicly funded healthcare system
- The NHS is funded mainly through taxation, including Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions
- A GP provides primary care and is usually the first point of contact for health problems
- Registering with a local GP practice helps you access routine care and referrals
- NHS 111 provides urgent medical advice when it is not life-threatening and can direct you to the right service
- Urgent Treatment Centres treat urgent but non-life-threatening problems and may be accessed via NHS 111
- A&E is for serious injuries and emergencies, not minor problems
- 999 (or 112) is the emergency number for life-threatening situations and immediate danger
- Prescription charges usually apply in England, while prescriptions are generally free in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
- Using the correct service (GP, 111, UTC, A&E, 999) is an important everyday-life responsibility

## Key Terms and Concepts

- NHS (National Health Service)
- National Insurance Contributions
- GP (General Practitioner)
- NHS 111
- A&E (Accident & Emergency)
- 999 (or 112)


Everyday life services - NHS, GPs, and emergency services