Healthcare and medical insurance

On the Streatham Campus in Exeter there is a specialist GP surgery for students called the Student Health Centre. Please visit exeterstudenthealthcentre. co.uk for information about services at the Student Health Centre. To register please use the online registration service at campusdoctor.co.uk/exeter You will need a UK mobile number to register.

If you are based on the St Luke’s Campus you may prefer to register at the Heavitree Health Centre theheavitreepractice. co.uk. Students based in Cornwall should register at the Penryn Surgery penrynsurgery. co.uk

Medical support through the Student Health Centre can run alongside your support through Wellbeing Services

If you are taking regular medication you should ensure you bring enough medication to last until you next return to your home country. Some medications are not available in the UK or cannot be prescribed on the NHS. Please ensure you bring information from a doctor in your home country about pre-existing health conditions and medication you are taking (in English where possible) as you may be questioned about medication you are bringing into the country on arrival in the UK and it is important that this information is available in case of an emergency. Please also make sure you give this information to your new GP surgery.

Covid 19 has had a significant impact on NHS hospital specialist care and NHS waiting lists for treatment are currently very long. If you need referral for non-urgent specialist care there may be a long wait to be seen. Please ensure you have any required hospital treatment before leaving to study in the UK, bring adequate supplies of medication for chronic illness and contact your GP surgery as soon as you arrive if you need a referral to hospital for ongoing care for a chronic condition.

Confidentiality

Please note that any medical information you give to an NHS service such as your GP surgery is confidential and cannot be shared with your university department or family without your consent, except in a very serious emergency situation.

Studying in the UK for less than six months

If you are studying in the UK for between three and six months you can still register at a GP surgery to access GP healthcare and emergency treatments but you may need to pay if you require some hospital treatments such as seeing a specialist. Some countries have a reciprocal arrangement with the UK to cover urgent treatments that cannot wait until you return home – for information please see nhs.uk/ nhs-services/visiting-ormoving-to-england

Students from EU countries should bring an EHIC Card (European Health Insturance) from your own national health authority. Students from Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland need to pay for NHS healthcare. Please see more information Visitors from EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland –NHS (nhs.uk).

If you are in the UK for less than three months you cannot register with a GP surgery for an NHS number. You can still be seen in an emergency as a temporary patient at a GP surgery, NHS Walk in Centre or Accident and Emergency Department.

If you are studying for less than six months it is therefore recommended you organise medical insurance prior to arrival.

Comprehensive private medical insurance

Comprehensive private medical insurance is essential if you are here for less than six months and are not from a country with a reciprocal agreement. You need to arrange this before you leave your home country. Private medical treatment in the UK is expensive.