- Patient information
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- About the factsheets
- Health care for people coming to Scotland to work
- Health care for people coming to Scotland to study
- Health care for asylum seekers and refugees
- Health care for former UK residents now working abroad
- Health care for UK passport holders living abroad
- Health care for UK pensioners visiting Scotland
- Health care in Scotland for overseas holidaymakers
- Information for young people
- Information for carers
- Information about health services
- Other languages and formats
- Local NHS contact details
Health care for people coming to Scotland to work
What do I need to do?
- You need to find a family doctor as soon as possible after you arrive in Scotland, and ask them to register you as an NHS patient. You will not have to pay for this.
- To find a GP, you can phone the NHS inform Helpline on 0800 22 44 88 or visit NHS 24 website. The NHS helpline can provide an interpreting service.
- When you have found a GP surgery, contact them and make an appointment to register as an NHS patient.
- If you need an interpreter, ask the GP surgery to arrange this for you. When you make an appointment, tell them what language you prefer to use.
- In Scotland, family doctors are often called General Practitioners or GPs. They work in GP surgeries, medical practices or health centres.
- The GP will decide if you can register as an NHS patient and if you can get NHS treatment free.
- The GP will help you look after all your health needs. They will decide if you need to see another health professional – for example a hospital doctor, or someone in mental health or maternity services. If you do, the GP will make the appointment for you.
Page last edited: 21 October 2011