The NHS, in plain English
The National Health Service is free at the point of use, funded mainly from taxation, and used by almost everyone in the United Kingdom — but knowing how to use it is not always easy. Which number do you call when your GP is closed? What does a hospital referral actually mean, and how long will you wait? What do prescriptions, dental treatment, and eye tests cost, and who pays nothing? This site answers those questions in plain English, with figures from official sources and links to check them yourself.
Start here, in five minutes
If you have never used the NHS before, start with how the NHS works and then register with a GP. If you need help now, read NHS 111 first. If money is the question, go straight to prescription charges, dental charges, or eye tests and optical vouchers. If something has gone wrong, read your rights as a patient.
All eleven guides
How the system works
How the NHS works — the four UK health systems, who runs the NHS in England, how it is funded, and your rights under the NHS Constitution. Register with a GP — finding a surgery, the GMS1 form, and your right to register without ID. The NHS App — prescriptions, records, appointments, and referrals on your phone.
Getting care when you need it
NHS 111 — when to call 111, when to call 999, and what the assessment involves. A&E or GP? — what each service is for, and the current waiting-time picture. Referrals & waiting times — the 18-week standard, your right to choose, and how to check your wait. Mental health services — Talking Therapies, self-referral, and crisis help.
What you pay — and who pays nothing
Prescription charges — the £9.90 per-item charge, the Prepayment Certificate, and exemptions. Dental charges — Bands 1, 2, and 3, and who gets free treatment. Eye tests & optical vouchers — who qualifies, and what the vouchers are worth.
Your rights
Your rights as a patient — the NHS Constitution, PALS, complaints, and the Ombudsman.
What this site will not do
This site will not diagnose you, recommend treatment, or tell you what to do about a health problem. It will not tell you which hospital to choose or whether you qualify for a particular service — only the NHS itself can do that. It is not affiliated with the NHS, NHS England, or the Department of Health and Social Care. What it will do is explain how the system works, what things cost, and what your rights are, clearly enough that you can use the NHS with confidence — and know where to check the current position on nhs.uk.
Sources: nhs.uk; NHS England; NHS England Digital; NHS Business Services Authority; GOV.UK; The King’s Fund; House of Commons Library; House of Lords Library.