Guidance

Adult Health: Homes for Ukraine

Services and care available through the NHS for adults.

Register with a doctor

To find your nearest GP service and for more information see register with a doctor and get medication.

Find out how to register with a GP surgery in Scotland.

Emergency treatment

See get urgent medical help.

Walk in or urgent treatment centres

See get urgent medical help.

Getting medication

See register with a doctor and get medication.

Coronavirus vaccinations

Most people in the UK have received at least one of their coronavirus vaccinations and it is likely that all the adults in your host’s household will have received theirs.

For the latest guidance on what to do if you have or suspect you have the virus, look at the UK government’s COVID-19 advice webpage (page not translated).

Booking a coronavirus vaccination

You can have a free COVID-19 vaccination from the NHS. This can be your first vaccination or a follow up vaccination (also known as a booster).

Your first vaccination

If you are registered with a GP in England, you can book your vaccination. (page not translated)

You can go to a ‘walk in’ vaccination centre if you haven’t registered with a GP.

See a list of vaccination centres in England or about vaccines if you are in Scotland.

If you have had a vaccination outside of the UK

If you have already had a COVID-19 vaccine in Ukraine or somewhere else, speak to your GP about which doses you should have in the UK, and when you should have them.

You should also tell the NHS about any COVID-19 vaccinations that you had outside of the UK, so the NHS can update your vaccination record.

You can make an appointment online to update your record, using the National Booking Service. You can also call 119 to update your record, and they will have translators available.

Mental health services

There are mental health services available in the UK. If you, or someone you know, needs help, this can be arranged by making an appointment with your GP.

If you do not want to talk to a GP, there are other organisations that offer helplines to talk confidentially to a trained advisor. Some of them offer translation or interpreter services. These include:

  • British Red Cross offers help in more than 200 languages call: 0808 196 3651 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm or until 8pm on Wednesday)
  • Mind offers help in 170 languages call 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm)
  • Barnardo’s (page available in Ukrainian and Russian) offers support to get access to therapy, call: 0800 148 8586 (Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm and Saturday 10am to 3pm)
  • Lifeline (Northern Ireland) on 0808 808 8000 (Textphone: 18001 0808 808 8000)
  • Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 to talk to a trained volunteer
  • Mental health organisations available in other parts of the country:

More information about these and other support organisations and helpline services in England is available at NHS mental health.

Find information on mental health support in Scotland.

To find support in your local area, you can also use the Hub of Hope. You can access some services directly, without going to your GP for a referral.

Maternity care and services

You can have free care when you are pregnant and after you give birth. This is likely to be arranged through your GP.

Maternity services cover care from the beginning of pregnancy up until around 10 days after you have given birth but can be up to 6 weeks postnatally.

Midwives make sure that personalised care is given throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. Much of this care is provided directly by midwives, who also arrange pregnancy related or other medical involvement if necessary.

You should contact a GP or midwife as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. It’s important to see a midwife or GP as early as possible to get the pregnancy (antenatal) care and information you need to have a healthy pregnancy.

You can also get support from a health visitor. A health visitor is a qualified nurse or midwife who has had extra training. They’re there to help you, your family and children up to the age of 5 years old to stay healthy.

See information on all you need to know about pregnancy, labour, birth and NHS maternity services.

For Scotland see NHS inform: ready steady baby.

Dentistry/ dental care and services

You can have NHS dental care to help keep your mouth, teeth and gums free of pain.

If you haven’t registered with a dentist yet, and you are in pain with your teeth or gums, call 111 on your phone for NHS Urgent Dental Care Services.

Costs for dental appointments depend on what treatment you are having. You can also choose to pay for your dental care privately.

NHS dentistry is only free by exemption (for example, if you are aged under 18 or in receipt of low-income benefits). Costs for dental appointments depend on what treatment you are having. Find out who can have free dental treatment in England.

You can search for local dentists and ask to register for an appointment. Find out how to find an NHS dentist.

You can find out how much you will pay for NHS dental treatment.

Scotland provides free dental checks. You can find a dentist near you, find out more about receiving NHS dental treatment in Scotland.

Eye care

You can make an appointment with any optician to have an eyesight test or get help with your glasses or contact lenses. There may be costs unless you can have a free NHS eyesight test or optical vouchers.

In Scotland you can have a free eye test (funded by the NHS). These are available to anyone who normally lives in the UK, and to refugees, asylum seekers and some eligible overseas visitors. Sometimes the NHS will also give an optical voucher towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses.

Protection against infectious diseases

NHS vaccinations are free to everyone and give the best protection to children and adults against infectious diseases such as:

  • meningitis
  • mumps
  • measles
  • rubella

Speak to your GP if you think you or your child have missed any vaccinations and to arrange an appointment.

Updates to this page

Published 16 January 2023

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