The NHS — public healthcare
What the NHS gives free, what prescriptions and dentistry cost, how to register with a GP and what to do in an emergency. Everything we have written on patients’ rights and on what you do pay for.
Articles on this topic: 58
Complaining about the NHS: PALS first, then the ICB, and a year for the ombudsman
A complaint about NHS care in England has three steps. PALS at the hospital, then a formal complaint to the provider or the Integrated Care Board, and only after the reply, the ombudsman — within a year of becoming aware of the problem.
A child passport in the UK: £66.50 online, £80 on paper, five years' validity
A passport for a child under 16 costs £66.50 online and £80 on a paper form, and lasts five years. Time left on the old one is not carried over, and laminated documents are refused.
Medical cannabis in the UK: who can prescribe it and for what
Lawful since 2018, but only a specialist hospital doctor can prescribe, never a GP, and only for three groups of conditions. Stress is not among them, and an on-the-spot fine goes on a criminal record.
The UPE scheme: 18 months, a 90-day window and one decisive day
A Ukraine Permission Extension grant runs for 18 months, a second for a further 24, and both are free. You can apply in the 90 days before your permission ends without losing any time. Being a day late costs you the right to work, rent and claim until a decision comes.
MMRV replaces MMR: chickenpox joins the childhood schedule
MMR has been replaced in the NHS schedule by MMRV, which adds protection against chickenpox. The number of doses depends on the child's date of birth, and children born between 2020 and 2022 who have not had chickenpox get a catch-up dose between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2028.
Free NHS eye tests in England: who qualifies and how much the glasses voucher is worth
The NHS pays for a sight test for twelve groups in England, but for glasses the list is shorter. The Universal Credit thresholds are £435 and £935; vouchers run from £42.40 to £233.56.
Adrenaline nasal spray in schools: MHRA opens consultation until 14 December
MHRA wants schools to be able to keep spare adrenaline as a nasal spray, not just an auto-injector. What it changes for parents of an allergic child, and how long you have to respond.
NHS to invest almost £140m in urgent care: what opens before winter
The government announced almost £140 million on 18 October for 14 urgent care schemes in England, with 25 more sites open for winter. Where patients will notice it, and where to go if you are unwell.
Care needs assessment in England: how to get help from your council
A care needs assessment from council social services is free and anyone can ask for one. The council generally helps with care costs if savings are below £23,250, and carers have a right to a separate assessment of their own.
Immigration Health Surcharge: £1,035 a year, £776 for students, 10 days to top up
Almost everyone applying for a UK visa pays the immigration health surcharge. Here are the rates, how part-years are calculated, who is exempt and when you get a refund.
Free UK GHIC: state healthcare in Europe and 15 working days for delivery
A UK GHIC is free, lasts up to five years and gives you state healthcare in the EEA on the same basis as a local resident. Here is who qualifies, what the card does not cover and what to do if it has not arrived.
Subject access requests: getting your records, emails and CCTV
An organisation must give you a copy of the data it holds about you as soon as possible and within one month. Health records are quickest to check in the NHS App, and silence or refusal can be taken to the ICO.
Freedom of information requests: how to get data from a public body
Anyone can ask a public authority in writing to show recorded information it holds. The response deadline is 20 working days, most requests are free, and a refusal can be reviewed internally and then taken to the ICO.
Brain cancer: government speeds up the route from lab to patient
On 14 October the Prime Minister set out four steps on brain cancer: an expert review reporting in three months, a national action plan, a dedicated clinical lead and an MHRA review of rare-disease medicine rules cut from three years to two.
NHS Low Income Scheme: HC2 and HC3 certificates, the £16,000 limit and the 3-month refund window
The scheme covers prescriptions, dental care, eyecare, hospital travel and wigs — and reaches people refused a means-tested benefit, because council tax and housing costs count.
The Healthy Start card: money for milk and vegetables in pregnancy and under-fours
The NHS tops up a prepaid card with £4.65 or £9.30 a week for milk, fruit and vegetables. Here are the eligibility rules, how to apply, the payment limits and the full list of what the card will not buy.
How to register with a GP in England: no passport, no address, no fee
Everyone in England can register with a GP surgery. No ID, no proof of address and no proof of immigration status can be demanded. Here is the procedure, the timescales and the only grounds for refusal.
DWP posts 660,000 leaflets: pensioners reminded about £4,500 a year
The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a new Pension Credit push. Leaflets go to seven areas with many low-income pensioners: the top-up is worth more than £4,500 a year on average, yet around a million people who qualify do not claim it.
A once-weekly insulin: MHRA authorises Onswik for type 2 diabetes
On 13 October 2026 the MHRA authorised Onswik — insulin efsitora alfa, injected once a week. For some adults with type 2 diabetes that is 52 injections a year instead of up to 365. Here is who it is for, what risks are named and when it might reach the NHS.
UK quantum projects backed by a share of £50m: which firms are named
On 13 October the UK government announced a quantum technology support package: companies developing applications for railways, diagnostics and navigation will share £50 million. A separate £20 million supports quantum communication networks and £8 million expands skills training. These are distinct funding streams, not one open grant pot.
NHS prescriptions in England: £9.90 an item and how to pay less
An NHS prescription in England costs £9.90 per item — two medicines a month is almost £240 a year. A prepayment certificate covers everything for £114.50 a year or £32.05 for three months, and many groups pay nothing at all. Here is who is exempt, which conditions qualify and how to claim a refund.
UK egg recall over salmonella: check the shell for code 3UA1012066
The FSA and Food Standards Scotland have warned of a recall of raw eggs from Yasensvit Ltd. Check the stamp on the shell itself: eggs marked 3UA1012066 must not be eaten and should be disposed of safely at home.
Paying for sex in Britain: the law, scams, STIs and a next-morning action plan
Payment does not make every sexual encounter lawful or safe. Buying sexual services is an offence in Northern Ireland; in England, Wales and Scotland criminal risk arises around street solicitation, exploitation, coercion and brothel-related activity. This non-judgemental guide explains how to recognise danger, what to do after a condom failure, suspected spiking or sexual assault, where to obtain confidential care and what it costs.
Where to go out on 10–18 October: dancing, music and meeting people in London and across Britain
Tonight Grand Junction has beginner-friendly Scottish dancing with a live band, central London offers a hosted 35+ singles mixer and The Roxy runs until 3am. Next weekend brings a free Ukrainian concert, a four-day tango festival, daytime discos and clubs open until 7am. We verified dates, addresses, prices and age limits — and did not mislabel ordinary events as Russian-speaking parties.
Where to sleep, shower and eat for free in the UK: verified addresses and rules
A free commercial hostel is rare, but safe emergency accommodation may be available through councils, Nightstop, SWEP and selected charities. Here are verified routes across all four UK nations, with addresses, telephone numbers, opening hours and an honest explanation of possible charges.
Eight UK Robotics Adoption Hubs Launch with £40 Million
Hospitals, farms and companies will be able to test robots before investing and get independent help with deployment. Separate funding will support training and robotics skills.
ADHD and autism in England: government changes the rules on assessments and promises help without a diagnosis
Professor Fonagy's independent review was published on 9 October. ADHD and autism diagnostic assessments — including private and self-funded ones — are to be CQC-regulated, and national NHS prices are intended from April 2027.
How to register with a GP surgery in England: no ID or visa needed
The NHS does not ask for ID, proof of address or proof of immigration status — only your name, date of birth and address. Here is how to register, how long it takes, when a surgery may refuse you, and why GP registration does not make hospital care free.
111, 999 or A&E: where to turn in the UK when you suddenly feel ill
NHS 111 can arrange a nurse callback and an emergency supply of your medicine, but it cannot issue a fit note — and you must not drive yourself to A&E. Here is what the official NHS guidance says.
Flu is rising in England and fewer people have had the jab than a year ago
UKHSA has published the first winter virus report of the season: September activity beat the past four winters, one circulating strain has drifted from the vaccine, and by 4 October only 9.9% of over-65s and 4.9% of at-risk adults had been vaccinated.
GP and NHS dentist appointments in England: how long people really wait
On 8 October the ONS published a survey of almost 90,000 adults on how people in England actually reach a doctor. A third of GP appointments are same-day, but 13% of adults have no dentist at all and only 14.7% of those trying to get an NHS dental place from scratch succeeded.
Court and tribunal interpreters: who gets one free and what changed on 5 October 2026
From 5 October 2026 courts and tribunals in England and Wales moved onto new language services contracts, adding Translate UK alongside main supplier thebigword. Ministry of Justice figures show 53,253 interpreter requests completed between April and June 2026, but 4,088 had to be bought off-contract — a record — and 185 trials did not start on the day because no interpreter was available.
Pension Credit in 2026: who qualifies, how much it pays and how to claim
Pension Credit tops weekly income up to £238 for a single person and £363.25 for a couple, with extra amounts of up to £118.46 a week on top. DWP estimates published on 30 October 2025 show up to 910,000 entitled families did not claim, leaving up to £2.5 billion unclaimed — around £2,600 a year each. Here are the thresholds, the extras, the savings rule and how to apply.
MenB jab for students: free until 31 December, but only 27% have had a first dose
UKHSA published the first coverage report on 1 October: of the 799,840 young people eligible for the free MenB vaccine, 212,549 had had a first dose by 20 September — 26.6%. London is the worst region at 21%. First doses are available until 31 December 2026 and second doses until 31 March 2027.
When do the clocks change in the UK in 2026? 25 October, an hour back
Overnight on Sunday 25 October 2026 the clocks in the UK go back an hour — the night is longer and the evenings get dark at once. RoSPA data shows collisions killing or injuring pedestrians rise 10 per cent in the four weeks that follow. Here is what changes itself, what you change by hand, why the NHS advises vitamin D from October, and how the time difference with calls home shifts.
Baby sleeping bags: UK regulator warns about bags with no arm holes or with a hood
On 1 October 2026 the UK's OPSS issued safety alert PSA9: baby sleeping bags used for unsupervised sleep are dangerous if they have no arm holes or include a hood. The risks are suffocation and overheating. Nearly 50 recalls have been published since 2023. What to check at home and how to get your money back.
Maternity leave and pay in the UK: 52 weeks off, £194.32 a week and what to do if your employer says no
Up to 52 weeks of leave but only 39 weeks of pay, most of it a flat £194.32 a week before tax. Who qualifies for SMP, what Maternity Allowance is, the one date that decides everything (15 weeks before the birth), what fathers get, and how to claim £500 and free prescriptions.
Pharmacy First: seven conditions a pharmacist in England treats without a GP appointment
Earache, sore throat, sinusitis, shingles, impetigo, an infected bite and uncomplicated UTI in women — for these seven a pharmacist in England consults and supplies prescription medicines directly. No referral needed, the consultation is free, the medicine costs £9.90 or nothing if you are exempt.
Divorce in England: what it costs, how long it takes, and why 'marry an Englishman and take half' is a myth
A scheme discussed in immigrant chats: marry an Englishman, endure a year, divorce — and leave with half his house. Here is how English family law actually works: divorce has been 'no-fault' since 2022, but no application is accepted before a year of marriage, the process takes at least six months and costs £628, money is divided in separate proceedings with no automatic fifty-fifty, and a visa tied to the marriage dies with it.
Martha's Rule in England's hospitals: how to summon a second medical team when someone is getting worse and nobody is listening
In 2021, 13-year-old Martha Mills died of sepsis in a London hospital: her parents saw her deteriorating, told the doctors — and were not heard. The coroner concluded she would probably have survived had she reached intensive care in time. Since 2024, hospitals in England operate Martha's Rule: the right of a patient or their family to summon an independent rapid review team at any hour, over the heads of the treating team. Here is the story — and how to use the right if English is not your first language.
Healthcare in the UK: what the NHS gives everyone for free, what prescriptions and dentists cost, and who pays under the 150% rule
Two myths circulate about British healthcare: 'everything is free here' and 'you can't see a doctor without insurance'. Both are wrong. A GP appointment, the ambulance, A&E and the 111 line are free for everyone — whatever your visa or status — and you can register with a GP without proof of address or right to reside. The pharmacy and the dentist, though, have their own tariffs: a prescription is £9.90 per item, dental work runs £27.90 to £332.10, and visitors who never paid the IHS surcharge get billed for hospital care under the 150% rule. The whole system, with the numbers.
A sponsor licence for employers: £611 for small business, a £525 certificate and up to £1,320 a year in charges — how to hire from abroad
Only an employer with a sponsor licence can hire from abroad — including EU citizens who arrived after 2020. The GOV.UK rules: prices for small and large businesses, certificates of sponsorship, the Immigration Skills Charge, the 8-week timeline and the duties that get licences revoked.
Skilled Worker visa in 2026: the £41,700 threshold, who qualifies at £33,400, what it costs and how to bring family
The UK's main work visa in 2026: a salary threshold of £41,700 or your job's going rate, discounts down to £33,400 for the young and shortage occupations, English now at B2, fees from £819 plus £1,035 a year for the NHS. The GOV.UK rules on who qualifies, what it costs and which family members can come.
NHS dentist costs in England in 2026: £27.90 for a check-up, £332.10 for a crown — and how to get an appointment
NHS dental charges do not depend on how many procedures you have: there are three bands — £27.90, £76.60 and £332.10 — and you pay only for the highest one. What each band covers, why you cannot register with a dentist, who to call in pain, who is treated free, and the tick-box that brings a £100 penalty.
Sick pay in the UK in 2026: paid from day one, up to £123.25 a week
Since 6 April 2026 the three unpaid waiting days are gone and the earnings threshold has been scrapped: SSP is available to every eligible employee. The rate is 80% of average weekly earnings or £123.25 a week, whichever is lower, for up to 28 weeks. Who qualifies, when you need a fit note, what the self-employed can claim and where to complain if an employer refuses.
UK state pension set to pass £13,000 — and overtake the tax-free allowance for the first time
The ONS has published wage growth for May to July: 3.9% including bonuses, the weakest since 2020. It is the first of the triple lock's three numbers, and on it the full new State Pension rises from £241.30 to £250.70 a week from April 2027 — £13,037 a year. The Personal Allowance is frozen at £12,570, so a pensioner with no other income gets a tax bill for the first time: around £93.
What changes from 1 October: six things that will touch almost everyone
Energy bills rise £60 a year, but VAT on electricity goes to zero. Right-to-work checks extend to couriers and subcontractors. The tribunal time limit doubles to six months. Date by date — plus three deadlines to meet.
Free NHS flu jab from 1 October: who is on the list — and why 56% of eligible adults skip it
The national booking service opened on 17 August, children and pregnant women have been vaccinated since 1 September, and everyone else on the list can book from 1 October. Almost 19 million jabs last season prevented an estimated 104,000 hospital admissions — yet only 44% of at-risk adults aged 18 to 64 took one.
The Autumn Budget lands on 28 October: what is already confirmed
The Budget is set for Wednesday 28 October 2026 and will be delivered by Chancellor John Healey — his first as Chancellor. Several measures are already named: £2 single bus fares in England outside London from 1 January 2027, zero VAT on electricity from 1 October, and a 20% business rates cut for pubs from April 2027. The rest is still rumour — and that is where the biggest sums sit.
The 31st National Television Awards: the winners in full, and what to watch
The NTAs were handed out at The O2 on 8 September — the only British television awards decided by the public rather than a jury. Special Recognition for Alan Carr, TV Presenter for Sir David Attenborough, Comedy for Mrs Brown’s Boys, Talent Show for Strictly. The full list, six programmes for newcomers, and where to watch them free.
Royal week: Prince George starts at Eton, Prince William at King Harald's funeral
On 8 September the eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales began at Eton, as his father did in 1995. On 9 September Prince William represented King Charles III at the funeral of King Harald V in Oslo, with the Princess Royal attending as godmother to the new King Haakon VIII. We are starting a standing royal file.
Universal Credit: who can claim, what it pays, and why many people must not apply
The standard allowance runs from £338.58 to £666.97 a month, savings are capped at £16,000, and every £1 earned cuts the payment by 55p. But first things first: most visas carry a no recourse to public funds condition, and claiming without the right damages your visa. How to check your condition and what to do if you have no right to claim.
England, Britain or the UK: the difference, and where it costs money
England is one of four countries; Great Britain is an island with three of them; the state is the United Kingdom, and UK is what goes on your forms. There is no "England visa" — it works in all four. But prescriptions cost £9.90 an item in England and nothing in the other three, and Scotland runs its own six-rate income tax scale.
Starting out in Britain: nine guides checked against the public registers
A bank account without proof of address, a credit record from zero, a free NHS interpreter, the home rate for university, school after VAT, work and pay, and doctors and restaurants checked against the registers. All of it in one place, in the order in which the questions come up.
Where to buy the food you grew up with in London: Russian, Ukrainian, Polish and Baltic shops
Curd cheese, soured cream, buckwheat, salo, borodinsky bread, dumplings, caviar, Georgian wine. We checked every address against the shops' own websites and the government's Food Standards Agency register — and listed separately the ones that did not check out.
Russian-speaking doctors and clinics in London: eight addresses checked against the registers
Every clinic checked against CQC, every named clinician against the GMC and GDC, every legal entity against Companies House. Where Russian really is spoken, where only the website has been translated, and why a chain advertising sixteen locations is registered for four. Plus one clinic that is not on the list, and how to check such a place yourself.
An NHS interpreter is free — and you can register with a GP without a single document
We checked the most common beliefs about the NHS against primary sources. The practice must book the interpreter, and nobody under 16 may do the job. Registering with a GP needs no passport, no address and no immigration status, and a refusal must be explained in writing within 14 days. And five minutes on the GMC, GDC and CQC registers separate a real doctor from a good-looking website.
Health in Britain: how to register with a doctor, what is free on the NHS and free medicines
How to register with a GP, what the NHS gives everyone for free, and who does not pay for medicines. With links to official NHS services.