You may be put on a waiting list to see a healthcare specialist or to get health and social care services. The Waiting Well website from NHS Inform has information to support your health and wellbeing at this time. This includes information on your physical and mental health, as well as advice about practical issues like money worries. It may seem strange to say you could be ‘waiting well’ as you may not be feeling your best. You may also be unsure what to do while you wait. But, it’s really … [Read more...]

Cases of measles are on the rise. Check you’ve been fully vaccinated against it. Measles In some parts of the UK and Europe, there’s been an increase in the number of people getting measles. Measles is one of the most infectious diseases. It can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications in some people. These include infections of the lungs (pneumonia) and brain (encephalitis). Measles is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. But you can prevent it by … [Read more...]

If you are coming to Scotland to study full-time, and you live in Scotland lawfully, you can get healthcare from the NHS from the day you arrive until one month after your course finishes. You may also get healthcare from the NHS if you are a part-time student and you are also working in Scotland. Accessing healthcare If you are from the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and you need care, you may be asked to show: — your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)— a letter … [Read more...]

Confirming your place on the NHS Scotland waiting List NHS Scotland is using a new text message service to ensure our patient waiting lists are up to date and that patients still need their appointments or operations. To help book patients for their appointment or operation as quickly as possible, they’re testing a new service to help us understand if patients’ needs have changed. This service will be delivered by the NHS Scotland National Elective Coordination Unit (NECU) in … [Read more...]

NHS Scotland does not recommend choosing to pay to travel abroad for surgery as part of a packaged holiday. This is sometimes called surgical or cosmetic tourism. Surgical options in Scotland can appear more expensive. But you should think about the potential savings against the potential risks of travelling for surgery. Decisions about surgery The most important decision to make about any operation is whether it is the right one for you. You should always talk to the surgeon who … [Read more...]