Navigating the NHS

Boots Webmd has some absolutely brilliant information on the NHS, history of the NHS, and it also has articles that explain the differences in the NHS between England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland , plus information on how to get the best possible care on the NHS.  

What the NHS does

NHS Differences Across the UK

How to get the best from your GP

Plus up to date news articles, etc.  Just thought I would share, as it's really helpful information for anyone new to the UK or if you're just curious about the NHS!  

Of course there's also great information on the NHS websites themseves
NHS England
NHS Wales
Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland
NHS Scotland

You can also find clinical guidelines - in case your curious about your standard of treatment and what you should be getting for care for various conditions:
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
Healthcare Improvement Scotland has Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network

NHS Direct in England, NHS Direct in Wales, and NHS 24 in Scotland are amazing resources -you can find health information on the web, you can call up and talk to nurses and see if you need urgent treatment or can wait, and they can arrange NHS services for you in an emergency.  I have used NHS 24 several times for a variety of issues - last time for a septic infection in my fingers and they're just brilliant!

Feel free to add to my list, just thought I'd make a start on explaining the NHS  

Thank you for this information, phatbeetle.

phatbeetle, you are beyond amazing!

Thanks so much for the information!

Just adding to the resource list the
Dial 111 for folks in Luton, County Durham and Darlington, Lincolnshire, Nottingham City, the Isle of Wight, parts of Derbyshire (the Bakewell, Bolsover, Chesterfield and Matlock areas) and Lancashire (excluding West Lancashire)

Bump.

Help Please...My son, 24, is coming to live here in Scotland with us, his parents.  He has a British passport because his Dad is a Brit.  He needs medical care.  I have tried to find out how he can get NHS care or a National Insurance number.  One Nurse told me that all he needs to do is make an appointment with a our local GP, get a referral for treatment, and he is ready to go with any other registering.  However, when I asked another person the same questions just to confirm the original answer, I was told, No.  You cannot just walk into Scotland and expect free treatment.   Can you give any advice?  He has never worked in the UK and does not have a job or schooling to go to.

Your son should register with your GP when he arrives.  He should bring his passport to show he is a British citizen. 

As long as he is coming back to the UK to live, and not just to visit, he will be entitled to free NHS care from the day he arrives in the UK, regardless of whether or not he has lived or worked here before.

He just needs to register with a GP when he gets here and book an appointment.