General Physical Examination

I am an American citizen.

I am studying in Edinburgh Scotland on a t4 student visa (august 2012-january 2014)

I will be moving to China in mid to late August.

I have secured a teaching job in China and as part of the work visa process for China, I have been asked to get a general physical examination for foreigners-- a requirement for a visa for the region I will be teaching in China.

I am not registered with a GP.

My university has a health service but the website says they are no longer accepting applicants.

I don't know how to arrange this, I have tried calling several hospitals so far today (Royal Edinburgh Hospital, Western General, Royal Infirmary). Most of the time nobody answered the phone, one time someone answered and flatly said they couldn't help me with that, and another time someone answered and said they would transfer me to a medical secretary to see if she could help but then hung up on me.

1. Does anyone know how I can arrange to get a regular, physical examination?
2. Does anyone know if it would cost anything, since I am an American Citizen and it's not an emergency?
3. Does anyone have any idea of how much time I can expect it to take to make such an appointment?

I would be so grateful to any responses.

Thank you

Kendall

Why don't you just register with a different GP in your local area?

You don't only have to register with the university healthcare service, you can register with any GP that is taking new patients in your area.

According to the NHS website, there are 100 GP practices in the University of Edinburgh area that you can try to register with. (http://www.nhs24.com/FindLocal?postcode=EH8+9YL&service=GPs&page=s11&imageField.x=36&imageField.y=11)

I don't think that a hospital would give you a general physical exam, because I'd guess that's more a service that would be offered by GPs, not hospitals.

As a student on a Tier 4 visa valid longer than 6 months, you have automatic free access to all NHS services, so there is no reason for you to have to pay anything. It doesn't matter if it's not an emergency, because it's all free anyway. I think you would only have to pay if you chose to go to a private GP for a medical and pay for it out of pocket.

I have secured a teaching job in China and as part of the work visa process for China, I have been asked to get a general physical examination for foreigners-- a requirement for a visa for the region I will be teaching in China.

I'm not sure what happens in Scotland, but in England you would pay for a medical examination for a visa.

When my son needed one for his visa, he was given a list of approved doctors by the country requiring this medical for a visa and he had to go to one on that list and pay them.

Even if you used the NHS, in England a GP is allowed to charge for form filling in/letters that a patient requests. Scotland may let you have it for free.

Generally the NHS in England will make you pay for more than the other countries, for example, in England you have to pay for prescriptions (unless you have an exemption) but in Wales and Scotland they are free.

The Royal Free Hospital in London has a Travel Clinic (I believe it's private) which provides immunisations for overseas travel plus other stuff.  I wonder if there is anything similar at a Scottish hospital, which could at least offer you advice?