Zebra Housing

Healthcare, Benefits & Safety

MEDICAL SERVICES – THE NHS

The Regulations governing entitlement to NHS hospital treatment in England are contained within The National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 1989.

Generally, students from the European Economic Area and Switzerland receive free treatment under reciprocal arrangements with health authorities in those countries under the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

Regardless of residential status or nationality, emergency treatment given at primary care practices (a GP) or in Accident and Emergency departments or a Walk-in Centre providing services similar to those of a hospital Accident and Emergency department is free of charge. Certain treatments are also exempt from charges for all nationalities, such as pandemic influenza.

In the case of treatment given in an Accident and Emergency department, or Walk-in Centre, the exemption from charges will cease to apply once the patient is formally admitted as an in-patient (this will include emergency operations and admittance to High Dependency Units) or registered at an outpatient clinic.

CAN I ACCESS PRIMARY CARE SERVICES?

GPs have a measure of discretion in accepting applications to join their patient lists. It is advisable to approach a GP practice and apply to register onto its list of NHS patients. The practice may choose to accept or decline your application. An application may be refused if the practice has reasonable grounds for doing so. A practice would not be able to refuse your application on the grounds of race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, disability or medical condition. If you have difficulty in registering with a GP, you should get in touch with your local primary care trust (PCT).

AM I ENTITLED TO HELP WITH THE COSTS OF NON-EMERGENCY NHS TREATMENT?

Information about help with health costs is detailed in leaflet HC11 “Are you entitled to help with health costs?” 

BENEFITS

As foreign students you will not normally be entitle to any UK welfare benefits.

SECURITY

Please always be aware of the safety and security of you and your neighbours. Please ensure doors are closed when you have used them. Please don’t let strangers into the building unless they have properly identified themselves.

If you should become aware of an intruder you should ring the emergency services on 999.

FIRE EXITS AND ALARMS

Please ensure that all exits, halls and passageways are left clear. Please don’t tamper with any fire equipment, smoke detectors or extinguishers. We have them checked regularly by our engineers, and our maintenance team walk through our buildings carrying out a visual check on a weekly basis.

If you should become aware of a fire, ring the emergency services on 999.

ELECTRICITY AND GAS

Do not carry out any alterations to the gas or electricity services. We carry out safety inspections of gas and electricity services and appliances regularly.

If you become aware of any malfunction of the services or appliances, you should let us know as soon as possible. If you become aware of a gas escape, you should ring the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 9999.

DOOR ENTRY SYSTEM

Some of our schemes have door entry systems. They are not designed to open the main front door from your flat. Do not give the entry codes to anyone other than those living in the flat.