Treatment

If you're in the UK and in need of medical treatment, it can be confusing trying to find out how to access the services you need, or whether you're allowed to receive free healthcare.

In the UK, medical treatment for emergencies is always free - regardless of your nationality, how long you've been in the UK, or any other factors.

The National Health Service (NHS) is the UK's public health system, and provides free medical treatment for all its citizens. Most of the people receiving free NHS treatment are British residents, but some are visitors from other countries. You can access NHS treatment through a variety of different services, but there are two main ways to get it: firstly, through General Practitioners (GP) at local surgeries, and secondly, through hospitals.

People who think that they may have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) should usually visit a Family Planning Clinic or Sexual Health Clinic (sometimes called genito-urinary medicine or GUM clinic) to be tested. To find out where your nearest family planning or GUM clinic is, visit the Family Planning Association website.

These clinics offer advice and information, and provide STI testing and treatment.

Testing, advice and counselling from these clinics is free for everyone, and medical treatment for all STIs except HIV (in some cases) is also universally free.

For more information on HIV treatment visit the NAM website.