Health services in England

Online help

If you are visiting from overseas, find out about health services in England and whether you might be entitled to free treatment.

NHS Choices

Many illnesses and injuries can be treated without the need to see a doctor or nurse.

You can find a health service or information about a minor illness or injury and how to treat it at NHS Choices. This site can be viewed in numerous languages.

NHS Direct

You can check your symptoms and get advice on what to do using the NHS Direct symptom checker. This is available only in English.

Pharmacies

You can visit a pharmacy without an appointment for advice about a minor illness or injury and the medicine you need to treat it.

At pharmacies and most supermarkets, you can buy many medicines and healthcare products, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, antacids, emergency contraception, plasters, bandages and sunscreen.

Pharmacists can also direct you to the right health service if you require treatment.

Walk-in services

The NHS provides a range of walk-in services. Walk-in services offer convenient access to a range of treatments. Many centres are open every day and outside normal office hours.

Walk-in centres

Walk-in centres provide fast access to health advice, emergency contraception and treatment for minor ailments and infections.

Minor injuries units

Minor injuries units cater for the urgent treatment of such things as cuts, sprains or minor burns.

Urgent care centres

Some hospitals have urgent care centres that provide treatment for a range of minor illnesses and minor injuries which need immediate attention.

Emergencies

If you or someone else is seriously ill or injured and you need emergency care fast, call 999 or 112 for an ambulance.

 
If you need urgent hospital treatment for something that is not life threatening, such as a broken bone, you can visit your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department.

If your illness or injury is not an emergency, you may have to wait longer to be seen by a nurse or doctor in A&E than if you use a non-emergency service, such as a walk-in service.

Sexual health services

If you are worried about unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, NHS pharmacists will give free confidential advice and direct you to the best sexual health service for you.

Sexual health services offer confidential services to women and men, including:

• sexual health information
• emergency contraception
• testing and treatment for STIs
• sexual health examinations
• referral to other specialist clinics