Can you provide an overview of the UK healthcare system and how it works for both home and international students?
The UK healthcare system, known as the National Health Service (NHS), provides healthcare services to residents and visitors. The NHS is publicly funded through taxation making most healthcare services free at the point of use for both home and international students.
Upon arriving at university students should register with the GP to access healthcare services.
What is the NHS, and how does it differ from private healthcare?
The NHS is publicly funded and makes most services available free at the point of access. Private healthcare is normally paid for by the patient directly.
The quickest way to register is by completing an online registration form via our website. You can also visit us in Bush House if you are unable to register online.
Are there any costs associated with healthcare for students, and what do they cover?
Healthcare for students is generally covered by the NHS. However, there are associated costs which apply to both domestic and international students.
There is a standard charge for prescriptions in England. There are charges for dental care and eye tests.
For international students that are coming to the UK for longer than 6 months there is also the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). By paying the IHS as part of the visa application it will grant them access to the NHS on the same basis as a UK resident from their arrival to the UK.
Can students be registered with more than one GP in the UK?
No, you can only be registered with one GP practice. If you do register with a different GP your current GP will be notified via the NHS Spine and you will come off their list automatically. You can also register with another GP temporarily for up to 3 months, which is a good idea for students who move home over the Summer.
What services does the KCL NHS Health Centre provide to students?
The Health Centre offers a wide variety of services. Whilst offering all the standard services such as vaccinations, cervical screening & contraception that GPs across the UK offer we also have created specialised clinics for our student population.
We have dedicated Mental Health Clinics, Eating Disorder Services, Diabetes Clinics, Sexual Health, Travel Clinic, Physiotherapy, Asthma and a Minor Surgery clinic.
Can you describe the process for booking an appointment with a GP?
To book an appointment with a GP we ask patients to complete an online consultation form called PATCHS that can be accessed on our website. This form is then clinically triaged. The triage process may lead to the patient being contacted the same day. If the clinical concern is routine then you will be contacted with a link to book an appointment yourself or be booked in directly by our admin team.
If your query is urgent, call the Health Centre between 09:00-11:00 and you can request to speak to our On-Call GP the same day.
What types of health issues can students seek help for at the health centre?
The Health Centre is typically the first point of contact for any health-related concerns. GPs are trained to deal with a wide range of health issues and can either treat the patient directly or refer on to a specialist service.
What should students know about getting prescriptions and over-the-counter medications?
A Healthcare Professional can issue you a prescription following a consultation. This is normally sent to a pharmacy of the patients choice using the electronic prescription service. The patient would then go to the pharmacy, pay the prescription charge and collect the medication.
Over-the-counter medications can be purchased directly from the pharmacy without needing the GPs input. Sometimes if you do see the GP they may advise you to purchase the medication over-the-counter instead of issuing you a prescription. This will be because the medication is not available for the GP to prescribe or it will be better value for the patient than paying the prescription charge.
Are there specific pharmacies that work closely with the KCL NHS Health Centre?
Our nearest pharmacy is Boots @ The Strand who we have a strong working relationship with.
How do students register with a pharmacy, and is it necessary to do so?
You can nominate a pharmacy via the NHS app, or directly with the Health Centre. If you do not nominate a pharmacy, and have requested a medication online, you can collect your medication using the prescription barcode in the NHS App from any pharmacy. If you have been given a one-off prescription by the GP and do not have a nominated pharmacy, you will have to collect a paper prescription from reception and take it to a pharmacy of your choosing. It is recommended to nominate a pharmacy for ease.
What preventive care services are available at KCL NHS Health Centre, such as vaccinations and health check-ups?
We offer all vaccines that are available on the NHS to patients who are eligible. The main routine vaccinations for students are MMR and Meningitis ACWY. We offer HPV vaccines to under 25 year olds and the Flu vaccine to patients in an ‘at risk’ category
We offer cancer screenings when patients become eligible and are able to perform blood tests at the Health Centre if the GP feels they are required. We also offer Sexual Health Screenings to patients who have no symptoms.
How can students access information and support for sexual health?
The Health Centre can test patients who have no symptoms for: Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis and HIV.
To test for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea patients will not need an appointment. In our toilets ladies will find a swab test and men will find a urine sample pot, these will need to be left at reception.
To test for Syphilis and HIV patients will need to book a blood test appointment with our Healthcare Assistant.
For patients who have symptoms they simply need to book an appointment with our nurse or GP and they will be able to help support and provide the required information.
What advice would you give to students to maintain their health while studying at KCL?
Some good practical steps would be to register with the Health Centre, stay active and engage with social events. The Health Centre and KCL have a wide range of support services so the best piece of advice would be to reach out for support.
What mental health support services does the KCL NHS Health Centre offer?
The Health Centre holds a weekly GP led Mental Health Clinic that patients can book in to.
We also offer access to Talking Therapies – a primary treatment approach for depression, anxiety, stress, panic disorders or sleep disorders to name a few. Patients can self-refer to this service via our website or be referred by a GP
We also have access to a Community Mental Health team. To access this patients will need to book a GP appointment as they will need to do a referral if they feel this is necessary.
What should students do in case of a medical emergency?
In a serious or life threatening emergency call 999 or attend Accident & Emergency.
If the emergency is not life threatening or serious you can call the Health Centre. If you call the Health Centre between 09:00-11:00 you can request to speak to our On-Call GP the same day. If it is after 11:00 our administration team will direct you to the appropriate service such as an Urgent Care Centre or NHS 111.
Are there services available outside of regular hours, and how can students access them?
NHS 111 is free and available 24/7. It is a non-emergency service which offers urgent health care assessments and can signpost to the most appropriate care. To access this service you just need to call 111.
How can students access urgent care if they are not registered with a GP yet?
It is best to register with the GP as soon as possible.
If you have yet to do so you will be able to use NHS 111. You will still be able attend any of the urgent care pathways but not being registered with a GP will slow the access to these services down as you will need to provide them more details at the time of access than if you were registered with a GP and on the NHS Spine.