Resident doctor strike

From Wednesday 17 to Monday 22 December, resident doctors (formerly known as junior doctors) will be taking strike action. During this time, our services will be under increased pressure.

Getting the right care

Please help us make sure emergency care is available for those who need it most:

  • Only attend A&E in life-threatening emergencies.
  • For non-urgent issues, please contact your GP, your local pharmacy, or NHS 111 (online or by phone).

Appointments and planned care

  • If your appointment is affected, we will contact you directly.
  • If you do not hear from us, please attend your appointment as planned.

Find out more.

Information for overseas visitors

Under the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations, anyone not ordinarily resident in the UK is chargeable for all non-exempt NHS hospital treatment, unless they are covered by a specific exemption or reciprocal healthcare arrangement.

Some services are always free, regardless of immigration status, including:

  • A&E services (before admission)
  • Treatment for certain infectious diseases
  • Compulsory mental health treatment
  • Certain public health services

Unless an exemption applies, charges apply to:

  • all non-urgent (elective) treatment, which must be paid in full and in advance
  • most inpatient care and outpatient appointments.

Emergency or immediately necessary treatment cannot be withheld but is still chargeable unless an exemption applies.

We strongly advise all visitors to the UK to hold comprehensive medical travel insurance.

EU/EEA and Switzerland residents

Visitors from the EU/EEA and Switzerland may be entitled to free treatment for medically necessary healthcare during their stay if they present one of the following:

  • a valid EHIC (European Health Insurance Card)
  • a valid GHIC (UK Global Health Insurance Card)
  • a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC).

This covers treatment that cannot reasonably wait until the patient returns home. It does not cover people who have travelled specifically to receive treatment in the UK.

If you do not present a valid EHIC, GHIC or PRC, you will be charged for all care except services that are exempt under the regulations (e.g. urgent maternity care).

To obtain a PRC, you must contact your home country's healthcare authority. The European Commission website lists the issuing organisations.

This will produce a list of contacts from which to select.

EU patients with S2 (planned treatment authorisation)

If you have an S2 form authorising pre-planned treatment in the UK, please contact us immediately via:

We must verify the S2 before treatment takes place.

UK state pensioners living in the EU (S1 holders)

If you provide a valid EHIC issued by another EU state, you can access all necessary medical care except that which you travelled to receive.

If you live in the EU and are covered by a registered S1, you may be entitled to full NHS hospital care free of charge.

Please contact us with your S1 details for verification:

Once confirmed, you will not be charged for NHS hospital treatment.

Visitors staying in the UK for six months or less

If you are visiting the UK for up to six months, you are not ordinarily resident and are therefore chargeable.

You must pay for:

  • all inpatient services
  • all outpatient appointments
  • any non-urgent treatment (paid before the appointment)

Maternity services and care to newborns are considered urgentand cannot be withheld but remain chargeable.

Common visa stamps that indicate a chargeable visitor include:

  • leave to enter for six months
  • employment prohibited
  • public funds prohibited
  • visa labels containing C-VISIT or C-FAMILY VISIT

The Home Office may refuse future visas or entry to the UK if a person has outstanding NHS debt of £500 or more.

If you have no immigration permission (no leave to remain)

If you do not have permission from the Home Office to remain in the UK, you are normally chargeable for NHS hospital treatment.

Important notes

  • This guidance summarises the current regulations and does not replace statutory law.
  • Charging decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, based strictly on the NHS Charging Regulations in force at the time of treatment.

For advice or confirmation of entitlement:

Last updated: 25 November 2025

Next review due: 25 November 2027

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