UK’s Best Hospitals for Foreigners and Expats
The best hospitals in the UK are known for their excellent medical care, multilingual staff, and experience with international patients. They offer a wide range of specialties and advanced medical equipment with dedicated patient services to assist with logistics and cultural considerations.
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Wonder where you can receive quality care in the UK? Do you need a walkthrough of the UK’s public and private healthcare systems? This Pacific Prime aims to address these common issues among expats regarding healthcare in the UK and recommend health insurance to access quality care.
The UK’s Public Healthcare System
The National Health Service (NHS) is the cornerstone of the UK’s health system, providing comprehensive healthcare services to residents, including consultations, hospital care, surgeries, and medication through General Practitioners (GP) and specialists.
Non-UK citizens’ access to free services in the UK varies depending on their immigration status and the specific service. Some services like emergency treatment can be received for free, but other services like mental health services may be subjected to cost-sharing.
The UK has reciprocal healthcare agreements with several countries, allowing UK citizens to receive some level of free or reduced-cost medical treatment when visiting these countries. These countries include:
- European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Gibraltar
- Countries in the Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia)
- Isle of Man and Channel Islands
To enjoy the medical benefits the NHS provides, expats must enroll in the system by obtaining a personal NHS number. GP is the primary point of contact and an NHS number is required to make an appointment with them.
An NHS number can be acquired by making an appointment with a GP and completing subsequent paperwork. The number allows patients to accurately access their medical records and enables patient referrals using the NHS e-Referral Service (eRS).
Best Public Hospitals in the UK
The NHS has a lot of excellent hospitals, based on patient outcomes, staff recommendations, and care quality. Most of them are major teaching hospitals affiliated with top universities. These best public hospitals offer specialized treatments and advanced medical technologies to visitors and expats:
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT
020 7188 7188
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
235 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU
020 3456 7890
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Addenbrooke’s Hospital)
Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ
012 2324 5151
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF
020 3311 1234
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU
030 0304 7777
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
The Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JJ
020 7352 8171
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
Great Ormond Street Hospital, Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH
020 7405 9200
Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London, NW3 2QG
020 7794 0500
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS
020 3299 9000
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, High Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN
019 1233 6161
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL
016 1276 1234
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Northern General Hospital, Herries Road, Sheffield, S5 7AU
011 4243 4343
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
St James’s University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF
011 3243 3144
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2GW
012 1627 2000
Private healthcare in the UK
The private healthcare system is an alternative to the public healthcare system, opening up the gateway for individuals to access private hospitals. It provides additional coverage and benefits beyond what expats can access in the NHS.
The benefits of using private healthcare facilities in the UK are as follows:
- Shorter waiting times
Time is of the essence when it comes to health-related matters. Within the private healthcare system, you can see a GP and/or specialist on the same day you make an appointment, skipping the long queue in the public counterpart.
- Better facilities
Private hospitals and clinics also have better facilities that make your visit more comfortable, especially if you need to stay overnight for treatment.
- More freedom in making healthcare decisions
You can also choose to see a specialist of choice without a GP’s referral. Private hospitals may provide treatments that are unavailable on the NHS, giving you more control and insight into your health.
Best Private Hospitals in the UK
The London Clinic
20 Devonshire Place, London, W1G 6BW
020 7935 4444
King Edward VII’s Hospital
5-10 Beaumont Street, London, W1G 6AA
020 7467 4344
The Cromwell Hospital (Bupa)
164-178 Cromwell Road, London, SW5 0TU
020 7460 2000
The Portland Hospital for Women and Children
205-209,214, 234, Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5AH
020 7580 4400
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street, London, W1G 8BJ
020 7935 7700
The Wellington Hospital
Wellington Place, St John’s Wood, London, NW8 9LE
020 7586 5959
Nuffield Health Cambridge Hospital
4 Trumpington Road, Cambridge, CB2 8AF
012 2337 0922
Spire Manchester Hospital
170 Barlow Moor Road, Manchester, M20 2AF
016 1447 6677
BMI The Alexandra Hospital
Mill Lane, Cheadle, Cheshire, SK8 2PX
016 1428 3656
Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital
3 Clifton Hill, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1BN
011 7911 5000
Spire Murrayfield Hospital
122 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 6UD
013 1334 0363
BMI The Priory Hospital
Priory Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7UG
012 1440 2323
The Christie Private Care
Wilmslow Road, Manchester, M20 4BX
016 1918 7296
King’s Private
Suite 3, Guthrie Wing, King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS
020 3299 3155
The Royal Marsden Private Care
Fulham Road, London, SW3 6JJ
020 7352 8171
Health Insurance Recommendations for Expats and Visitors in the UK
Despite the NHS offering comprehensive healthcare to citizens, expats and visitors are only eligible for part of their services. Securing health insurance in the UK would greatly enhance your accessibility to timely and world-class healthcare services.
We have compiled a list of the top 10 international health insurance companies in the UK for you, and you can start your research from there.
If you think it is too overwhelming to go through all these options, consider working with a reputed broker like Pacific Prime— we have a team of experienced insurance advisors to find and compare the best-fitting plan for your unique healthcare needs. Contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Which hospitals in the UK are known for providing the best care to international patients?
Top UK hospitals for international patients include King’s College Hospital, London Bridge Hospital, and The Wellington Hospital. These offer specialized international patient services, multilingual staff, and high-quality care across various specialties.
Do I need private health insurance to access top hospitals in the UK as a visitor or expat?
While the NHS provides free emergency care, private insurance can offer quicker access to specialists and private hospitals. It’s recommended for comprehensive coverage, especially for non-emergency treatments and to avoid potentially long NHS waiting times.
Are there hospitals in the UK that offer services in multiple languages for non-English speaking patients?
Yes, many major UK hospitals, especially in London, offer multilingual services. King’s College Hospital, for example, provides interpreters in over 100 languages. The NHS also offers translation services, though availability may vary by location and language.
Since joining Pacific Prime, Eric was exposed to a new world of insurance. Having learned about insurance products extensively, he has taken joy and satisfaction in helping individuals and businesses manage risks and protect themselves against financial loss through the power of words.
Although born and raised in Hong Kong, he spent a quarter of his life living and studying in the UK. He believes his multicultural experience is a great asset in understanding the needs and wants of expats and globe-trotters.
Eric’s strengths lie in his strong research, analytical, and communication skills, obtained through his BA in Linguistics from the University of York and MSc in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of Bristol.
Outside of work, he enjoys some me-time gaming and reading on his own, occasionally going absolutely mental on a night out with friends.
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