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Health care in Scotland for holidaymakers from overseas
What can I do if I run out of my medicines while I am in Scotland?
Visit a local GP
- You can contact a GP in the area where you are staying, and ask to make an appointment.
- To find a local GP, phone the NHS inform Helpline on 0800 22 44 88 or visit NHS 24 website.
- Staff will ask to see some documents to help them decide if you can get NHS care. You may be asked to show your EHIC card, your passport, or a document showing where you live. The GP will decide if you can be registered as a temporary resident.
- If you are registered as a temporary resident, you will not need to pay to see the GP.
- The GP will ask you about your medicines and give you an NHS prescription. This is a document that you can take to any pharmacy. The pharmacist will give you the medicines listed on the prescription.
- If you are not registered as a temporary resident, you may need to pay to see the GP. The GP may give you a private prescription and you may need to pay the full price for each medicine on the prescription.
Go to a pharmacy
- You can go to a pharmacy in the area where you are staying, and ask the pharmacist for a small supply of the medicines you need.
- If the pharmacist agrees to do this, you will need to pay the full price for the medicines.
- To find a local pharmacy, phone the NHS inform Helpline on 0800 22 44 88 or visit NHS 24 website.
- Your medicines may not be available in the UK.
Page last edited: 21 October 2011