We pride ourselves in our healthcare system. It is necessary to register with a General Practitioner who will be your usual first point of contact to the Health Service if you are unwell. Your GP can treat most illnesses but may refer you to a hospital if you require tests or your medical condition is more serious.  An appointment with your GP is free. If you require a prescription for medication it is also free.

Usually, in a practice, several GPs work together in a surgery, clinic or health centre. To see a GP in a practice, you need to register as a Health Service patient with the surgery. To register with a practice, ask the receptionist if you live in the area the practice covers and if they accept new patients. A list of GP Practices can be found via https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/gp-practices . You can enter the name of the town/area you live in and it will give us a list of nearby practices.

If your application is successful

If the practice is willing to accept you as a patient, you need to bring your Medical card and fill in a registration form (HS100), or for people from outside of UK or people who have been out of the UK for more than a year (HS22X) which the receptionist will give to you. Your medical records will be transferred to your new practice.

If your application is refused

If you live over a certain distance away from a practice, or if it has closed its patient list, the

practice may refuse your application. If this happens, you should contact the Business Services Organisation and ask them to put your name on a doctor’s list in your area.

Prescriptions written by GPs are dispensed free in Northern Ireland. You can bring your prescription to any pharmacy in Northern Ireland and most small towns will have at least one pharmacy. Pharmacists in Northern Ireland don’t charge patients from England, Scotland or Wales for prescriptions. If you bring your prescription to a pharmacy in England, Scotland or Wales, the pharmacist won’t charge you for dispensing. Pharmacists in Northern Ireland do however charge patients a fee when dispensing a prescription issued in the Republic of Ireland

If you receive medication on repeat prescription you will need to nominate one pharmacy to collect this at. To do this, just ring your doctors and tell them to send the repeat prescription to the pharmacy of your choice. At some GP practices you may have to ring reception to order a repeat prescription however you can often do this online. Ask your GP practice to learn more about how to order repeat prescriptions

Prescriptions written by GPs are dispensed free in Northern Ireland. You can bring your prescription to any pharmacy in Northern Ireland and most small towns will have at least one pharmacy. Pharmacists in Northern Ireland don’t charge patients from England, Scotland or Wales for prescriptions. If you bring your prescription to a pharmacy in England, Scotland or Wales, the pharmacist won’t charge you for dispensing. Pharmacists in Northern Ireland do however charge patients a fee when dispensing a prescription issued in the Republic of Ireland

If you receive medication on repeat prescription you will need to nominate one pharmacy to collect this at. To do this, just ring your doctors and tell them to send the repeat prescription to the pharmacy of your choice. At some GP practices you may have to ring reception to order a repeat prescription however you can often do this online. Ask your GP practice to learn more about how to order repeat prescriptions

Your General Practitioner can treat most illnesses but may refer you to a hospital if you require tests or your medical condition is more serious. Health and Social Care (HSC) hospitals provide free healthcare. If you are involved in an accident or suddenly take ill, you may need to go to an Emergency Department (ED). The number to call for an ambulance is 999. The ambulance will take you to the Emergency Department at the nearest hospital.

The Health Service provides the dental care and treatment necessary to secure, and maintain, the health of your mouth and teeth. Depending on your circumstances, you may have to pay for dental treatment.

You can use a Health Service dentist with a set scale of charges, or can choose to pay for a private dentist depending on the type of care and treatment you wish to access. Certain treatments such as cosmetic work are not available through the Health Service.

You can receive additional treatments, or treatment using alternative materials, if you choose to pay privately either with your Health Service dentist or another practice.

It is also possible through private dental treatment to access some specialist treatment in high street practices and to choose cosmetic dentistry that is not available under the Health Service.

You can apply to register with a Health Service dentist if they are accepting new patients. A list of dentists can be found by accessing the HSC Business Service Organisation (BSO) website:

http://www.hscbusiness.hscni.net/services/2070.htm

The dentist should not assess you prior to accepting you for treatment as the assessment is part of the course of treatment. The dentist will decide and agree with you what your treatment options are and agree a treatment plan with you. Once registered, you will stay on that dentist’s patient list for a 24-month period. This registration period will be extended if you return for another examination or further treatment during that period.