What will you be doing over the Easter break? >>

Dentists? GPs? AGGH

Okay to like....cut a long story short I have just returned from living in Spain for like 4 years (ill fated family movings to spain thing) and I've just come back. I'm 19. About to start uni year after next. Doing 2 intensive 1 year A Levels next academic year, hoping to get into UCL doing Biomed or Psychology or what have you or whatever.

ANYWAY

Naturally I want to do all the gp doctor optician crap but argh! I don't know where to start.

Ok. I have an NHS card from my old address back in england. (I'm english, a UK national, whatever you call it) but I dun have a clue what to do.

Ok. I'm not working yet but I haven't paid any NI so I don't get to laze about on benefits. I aim to get a job soon, perhaps at WHSMiths or whatever.

ANYWAY. Since I haven't had a checkup (especially dentally) for god knows how long, I feel the nagging need to book one somewhat nowish.

FIRSTLY! Trouble is, I've come back to realize that there are NO NHS dentists accepting new patients. So what do I do? Do I take out a Dental plan of some sort? Like HSAs dental plan? And then when I go to a private dentist I have the HSA thing pay? I'm thinking I need to have a checkup soon or something, considering I couldn't get one in Spain. (Spanish medical services = a nightmare and not great quality/service either, as our stay in La Fe thanks to my brother taught us ¬_¬)

Secondly, a GP. How do I go about getting one of those?

Thirdly. Opticians. I wear glasses (things more than a couple of metres away, the edges are blurry. Nothing superserious but it wouldn't bode well for driving, which I also have to learn soon). What do I do about opticians? I've heard about "GET A FREE EYE TEST BUT TAKE IT TO SOME SPECIALIST PLACE TO GET TEH GLASSES"

Thanks for anyone who can help a little old guy who has kinda been out of the loop of UK things for a while. ^_^;;

Reply 1

L i b

For a GP, just walk in to almost any surgery or medical centre, fill out the form. I don't recall mine ever asking about citizenship etc, but I'm sure your British Passport would be adequate if any questions were raised.

Probably ditto for a dentist, but like you say some areas have very few NHS dentists on their books. You might have to find one far away or simply pay to get your teeth looked at.

Personally, I have a great NHS dentist.

When you start uni, there's usually some sort of set up at the Freshers' Fayre telling you about the local GPs and so forth and letting you sign up with them there.