Medical Consultations for Patients Abroad

Why we are unable to provide medical consultations for patients abroad

If you are travelling or living outside the UK, your GP practice is generally unable to provide routine consultations, assessments, prescriptions, or treatment while you are overseas. It will not be usual practice for us to contact patients on international numbers or mobile phones whilst they are abroad.

GP services are commissioned to provide NHS care to patients who are normally resident within our practice area and located in the UK. When a patient is abroad, there are important legal, regulatory and clinical governance considerations that prevent GPs from safely delivering care. These include:

• Differences in local healthcare laws and regulations between countries.
• Limitations in assessing patients remotely, particularly when an examination or urgent investigations may be required.
• Challenges in arranging prescriptions, referrals, investigations or follow-up care outside the NHS and UK healthcare system.
• Professional indemnity and licensing restrictions - UK medical defence organisations (like the MDU) do not insure doctors to advise or treat patients physically located in a foreign jurisdiction.
• A GP’s licence to practice is bound by UK regulations. Providing telemedicine across international borders can breach local registration laws in the country where you are staying.
• Prescription Limits: A UK doctor cannot issue an electronic or paper NHS prescription that can be legally filled or dispensed at a pharmacy abroad.

You will remain registered with your UK GP surgery while on a short trip. However, for any medical issues that arise during your holiday, we recommend you seek local care using a travel insurance policy or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). If your condition is serious or urgent, please contact the local emergency services immediately. If you move abroad to study for longer than 3 months, you are legally no longer considered an ordinary UK resident. You are expected to de-register from your GP practice and fully enrol in the healthcare system of the country where you are studying.

We encourage patients to ensure they have adequate travel insurance and enough regular medication for the duration of their trip before travelling.

Thank you for your understanding. Our priority is to ensure that all patients receive safe, appropriate and legally compliant medical care.