Urgent Medical Care Before Receiving NHS Number?

Hello everyone,

I arrived in the UK on my spousal visa about a month ago. When we got here, my husband called his GP and asked what we needed to register for my NHS number and they said they required a bill to our address with my name on it. So we went about the process of requesting updated bills from the relevant companies.

The problem is, I am having a serious issue with my foot. I think I have a serious bone infection as it is swollen twice its size and leaking fluid--needless to say I am really worried about it! I want to see a doctor ASAP, but I am not sure if I am entitled to go to an express clinic or A&E before applying with our GP for my NHS number and none of our bills with my name updated on them have come through yet!

Am I allowed to go a clinic or hospital before officially having my NHS number? If I do, are there going to be any issues or complications that I will need to sort out before I apply for my Indefinite Leave to Remain? I may sound silly, but I just don't want to risk any complications with my future immigration applications and want to be absolutely certain before I head to the doctor.

Thank you so much for a (hopefully!) quick and helpful response!

Go! You are entitled as you're in the UK on a resident visa. I never received an NHS number, I think it just depends on your Trust. Go!!!!

You can also print this out and take your passport to show them your visa if anyone even questions your eligibility:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074376

To repeat what Charmcitygirl said, GO! The local GP should have emergency appointments that you can use if you haven't registered with them or you can go to a hospital and go to their emergency unit. I had a serious infection last winter and could not wait for a GP nor was I registered with a local one. I went to my local GP and they recommended an emergency appointment and they took my number and said they would call me. However, the assistant there said if I don't want to wait, I could go to a hospital in central london and visit their emergency unit.

I went to the hospital, though on transit, the GP office called me and said a spot was open. I waited maybe an hour at the hospital but I got checked. They didn't ask for my visa. They asked for my address, NHS number and my GP information. I told them I didn't have a GP and I didn't know my NHS number and they still sorted me out.

Go!

I hope you've been to hospital now. Yikes!!!!

Though you're certainly eligible for the NHS anyways on a spousal visa, remember A&E care is free for everyone, regardless. 

DW just went to the Gp surgery with her passport/visa and asked if she could be registered with the doctor. They didn't even bother checking her visa! Accepted her straight away, when she told them she had a theriod condition the nurse gave her the forms for free prescriptions as well!

I just went to the same Dr my husband had and even though we no longer lived in that area, they took me straight away.  I didn't show a passport or anything either.  In fact, he is the one registered me with the NHS and saw me before I got my number.