Health

Registering with a GP — free, for everyone

Anyone in England can register with a GP surgery and see a doctor or nurse free of charge. You do not need ID, proof of address, proof of immigration status, or an NHS number — the NHS's own guidance says so explicitly. If you have no fixed address, you can register using a temporary address or the surgery's own address. A surgery that refuses you must explain why in writing within 14 days, and "no documents" is not a lawful reason.

• Register with a GP surgery (NHS) — including online registration.
• Wrongly turned away? The Doctors of the World clinic advice line (0808 1647 686, free) helps people refused registration.

Gotcha: receptionists often ask for documents anyway. It is fine to provide them if you have them — but not having them cannot stop you registering. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own NHS systems with the same open approach to GP registration.

NHS dentists — how it actually works

NHS dental care is not free for most adults: you pay fixed NHS charges per course of treatment (three bands, set each year), which are far below private prices. The hard part is finding a practice taking new NHS patients — you are not tied to your home area, so ring around and ask to go on waiting lists. Check-ups, children's treatment and some benefits recipients are exempt from charges.

• NHS dental services — find a dentist and current charges (NHS)
• Urgent dental problem with no dentist? Call NHS 111.

Emergencies and urgent care

• 999 — life-threatening emergencies. A&E treatment for emergencies is free for everyone.
• NHS 111 (phone or online) — urgent but not life-threatening; it directs you to the right service, 24 hours a day.

Prescriptions

In England a prescription costs a fixed charge per item (free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). Many people are exempt — check before paying, and if you pay often, a prepayment certificate caps the cost.

• Prescription costs and exemptions (NHS)

Mental health

Your GP is the front door for most NHS mental health care — but in England you can also refer yourself to free NHS talking therapies without seeing a GP first.

• Self-refer to NHS talking therapies (NHS)
• Samaritans — call 116 123, free, any time, about anything you're going through.

GHIC and EHIC — cover when you travel

If you live in the UK, a free UK GHIC (or, for many Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries, a UK-issued EHIC) covers medically necessary state healthcare when you visit the EU. Apply only through the NHS — unofficial sites charge for what is free.

• Apply for a free UK GHIC (NHS)

Hospital charging — know where the line is

GP care is free for everyone, but some hospital care is chargeable for people not "ordinarily resident" in the UK. People with settled or pre-settled status living here are ordinarily resident and entitled to free NHS hospital care — yet wrongful invoices happen, and they are frightening. Do not simply pay a bill you believe is wrong: see wrongly charged by the NHS.

Last reviewed: July 2026.