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4.9 College Health Centre and National Health Service

The National Health Service Regulation (HC83/10) states that an international student enrolled on a course of study of 6 months or longer is eligible to use the National Health Service (NHS). The spouse and dependants under 16 (or under 19 if studying in school or further education) of such students are also eligible. If you will be studying in the UK for less than 6 months you will not be eligible for treatment under the NHS, and will be expected to pay for all health care. If you will be studying in the UK for more than six months you are eligible for treatment under the National Health Service. NHS cover starts from the date that you arrive in the UK, but does not continue while you are out of the country. If you are eligible to use the NHS you should be aware that you are covered only when you are physically present in the UK. You will not be covered while you are travelling to or from the UK or while you are in any other country. You therefore are strongly urged to make appropriate arrangements for travel/health insurance for any times when the NHS will not cover you.

Health Centre

The College Health Centre is situated on the first floor of Founders East. It provides full NHS General Practitioner services for registered students and is part of the Clarence Medical Centre, Windsor. Services include contraceptive advice and cervical smears, maternity care, asthma clinics, routine and travel immunisation, minor surgery, and first-aid and emergency care for all students, staff and College visitors. Psychiatric and physiotherapy services are also available at the discretion of your doctor.

If you wish to use the services of the Health Centre you will need to register with the Centre during the first few days of the Session.

All resident students are eligible to utilise the special provisions of the Health Centre additional to both the basic National Health Service and to the requirements for first-aid provision. A fee of about £26 is included within all residence hall fees to pay for this additional provision. If you are living in the local community, you may choose to pay a subscription fee and benefit from the full range of Health Centre services. Otherwise, if you use Health Centre facilities, other than the basic NHS or first aid provision, you will be charged for the cost of this additional service.

If you are not registered with the College Health Centre, you may still make use of the Centre in the case of sudden illness or accident whilst you are at the College. If you are living in the local community, a list of doctors outside the immediate College area may be obtained from the Health Centre receptionist.

Under the NHS you will be asked to pay towards the cost of any prescriptions. These and other medicines can be bought from the pharmacy counter at a Chemist. You are, however, entitled to free prescriptions if you are under 19 and studying full-time, if you are pregnant or if you have had a baby within the last 12 months.

You should try and get your teeth checked by a dentist at least once a year. Your doctor can give you lists of dentists who give NHS treatment. You need to be registered with a doctor in order to qualify for NHS dental treatment. Check first whether the dentist accepts NHS patients, as some dentists will only accept private patients. Once accepted you will need to give the dentist the NHS number on your medical card. If you are registered as an NHS patient you will have to pay the minimum charge.

If you think you may need glasses or need to visit an optician for an eye test there is a minimum charge for getting your eyes tested on the NHS. If the test shows you need glasses or contact lenses the optician will give you a prescription. The costs of frames and lenses can vary considerably so check costs with several opticians before buying. You can apply for help with the costs of your glasses on the basis of low income in the same way as for medical and dental treatment. If you have already paid for your glasses, you cannot apply for a refund afterwards.

If you are referred to a hospital for tests or treatment, you may be subject to simple questions about the length of your residence, to make an initial assessment of your NHS coverage. Passports should not normally be requested and in no case will treatments be dependent upon the ability to pay.

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