Health and Services

What is a 'GP' or 'General Practitioner'?

• AA surgeon who does operations
• BA local doctor you register with✓
• CA nurse working in a hospital
• DA dentist for your teeth

Answer: A GP (General Practitioner) is a doctor in your local surgery (doctor's office). In the UK, you should register with a GP near your home. Go there when you are ill.

What should you do if you feel ill and want to see a doctor?

• AGo straight to the hospital
• BCall your GP surgery and make an appointment✓
• CWait and hope you get better soon
• DAsk a friend for some advice

Answer: Call your GP surgery and make an appointment. Say: 'I'd like to make an appointment with the doctor, please.' Tell them when you are available.

What is the NHS?

• AA private health insurance company that you have to pay each month
• BA large hospital in the centre of London for very ill people
• CA shop that sells medicine and food
• DThe National Health Service - free healthcare in the UK✓

Answer: The NHS (National Health Service) is the UK's public healthcare system. Most care is free when you use it: GP appointments, A&E and hospital treatment. Some things are not free, such as most prescriptions in England, and dental and eye care.

What should you do in a medical emergency (like a serious accident)?

• ACall 999 and ask for an ambulance✓
• BWait at home and see if it gets better
• CGo and ask the pharmacist
• DGo to your GP surgery

Answer: Call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance. Say: 'I need an ambulance at [address].' Tell them what is wrong. An ambulance will come quickly.

What is an 'accident and emergency' or 'A&E' department?

• AThe part of a hospital for urgent/emergency cases✓
• BA small shop in the hospital that sells first aid items
• CThe room in a hospital where the doctors do operations
• DThe place where ambulances are kept and repaired at the hospital

Answer: A&E (Accident and Emergency) or Casualty is in a hospital. Go there for emergencies like broken bones, serious injuries, or chest pain. You may wait a long time.

What is a 'pharmacist'?

• AA shop assistant who takes your money at the till in a chemist
• BA nurse who gives injections and looks after patients on a ward
• CA person trained in pharmacy who gives medicines and advice✓
• DA doctor who works in a hospital and treats people who are very ill

Answer: A pharmacist works in a pharmacy (chemist). They give you medicines and advice. You can ask them health questions before you see a doctor.

What is a 'prescription'?

• AA form that you fill in with your name and address at the surgery
• BA detailed list of medicines a doctor gives you✓
• CA small notebook where you write down how you are feeling each day
• DA printed leaflet inside the box that explains how to take a medicine

Answer: A prescription is a piece of paper the doctor gives you. It tells the pharmacist what medicine to give you. You take it to the pharmacy (chemist).

What is a 'prescription charge' in the UK?

• AA small fixed amount you pay for each prescription (medicine)✓
• BThe bill the hospital sends you after you stay there for a night
• CThe money you pay to the doctor each time you have an appointment
• DAn extra charge for delivery of goods

Answer: In England you pay a fixed charge for each item on a prescription; the amount is set by the government and can change each April, so check GOV.UK for the current figure. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In England some people do not pay, for example children under 16, 16 to 18 year olds in full-time education, people aged 60 or over, and pregnant women.

What does 'OVER THE COUNTER' mean for medicines?

• AMedicine that someone has taken from a shop without paying any money for it
• BMedicine that the NHS gives you free
• CMedicine that a hospital doctor gives you after you have had an operation
• DMedicine you can buy without a prescription from a pharmacist or shop✓

Answer: OVER THE COUNTER medicines are medicines you can buy without a prescription. You can get them from a pharmacist or a supermarket. For example: paracetamol, cough syrup.

What is a 'dentist'?

• AA doctor who looks after your skin
• BAn ear doctor
• CA doctor for your teeth✓
• DA doctor who tests your eyes

Answer: A dentist is a doctor for your teeth. They clean your teeth and fix problems. Your dentist will tell you how often to come back for a check-up. It is usually between 3 months and 2 years, depending on your teeth.

What does an 'optician' do?

• ATreats problems with your skin
• BTests your eyes and vision✓
• CCleans and repairs your teeth
• DTests your hearing and your ears

Answer: An optician tests your eyes and sells glasses or contact lenses. An optician is not a doctor. The eye doctor you see in a hospital is called an ophthalmologist.

What should you do if you need urgent medical help on a Sunday?

• ACall NHS 111 or go to A&E if very serious✓
• BDo nothing and go to bed
• CWait until Monday morning and then ring your GP to ask for help
• DCall your GP surgery

Answer: If it is urgent but not serious, call NHS 111 (free). They can advise you and arrange care. If it is very serious or life-threatening, go to A&E or call 999. Your GP surgery is closed on Sunday.

What is 'NHS 111'?

• AA hospital telephone number
• BAn emergency number for serious injuries
• CA repeat prescription service
• DA phone service for non-emergency health advice✓

Answer: NHS 111 is a free phone service. Call it for health advice when it is not an emergency (like a rash, fever, or advice). They can tell you what to do.

What is a 'sick note' or 'fit note'?

• AA document from a doctor saying you cannot work because of illness✓
• BA note that you write yourself to tell your employer that you are ill
• CA leaflet from the pharmacy with advice about the medicines you are taking
• DA letter from your employer asking you to come back to work after your illness

Answer: A sick note (now called a fit note) is a document from a doctor or another healthcare professional, such as a nurse or pharmacist. It says whether you are fit for work. Give it to your employer. You need one if you are ill for more than 7 days in a row.

What is a 'walk-in centre'?

• AA place to go for a walk
• BA medical centre where you can go without an appointment✓
• CA shop you can walk into
• DA centre that helps people to walk again after a serious injury

Answer: A walk-in centre is a medical centre you can visit without an appointment. You see a doctor or nurse for non-emergency problems. No appointment needed.

What should you do if you think you have COVID-19?

• ACheck the NHS website and follow its advice✓
• BGo to your GP surgery and sit in the waiting room
• CGo straight to the hospital and wait to see a doctor
• DIgnore it and carry on going to work as normal

Answer: Guidance changes, so check the NHS website (nhs.uk). It advises you to try to stay at home and away from other people while you have a high temperature or feel unwell. Home tests are sold in pharmacies but are no longer free for most people. Call NHS 111 if you get worse.

What is 'vaccination' or 'immunisation'?

• AA course of talking therapy to help you feel better
• BAn operation in hospital to take out a part of your body
• CA treatment to make you immune to a disease✓
• DA medicine that you take to stop the pain in your body

Answer: Vaccination is when a doctor gives you a vaccine (usually by injection) to protect you from a disease. For example: flu vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine, children's vaccines.

What is the 'NHS Constitution' or patient rights in the NHS?

• AA list of the medicines, creams, and tablets the NHS provides
• BYour rights as a patient (to be treated with respect, access to records, etc.)✓
• CYour medical records, test results, and appointment letters
• DA form asking for your name, address, and date of birth

Answer: The NHS Constitution sets out your rights as a patient in England: respect, privacy, safety, choice of treatment, and how to complain. You can read it on the GOV.UK website or ask at your GP surgery.

What should you do if you have a complaint about your healthcare?

• AGo back to the hospital
• BContact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) or your complaints procedure✓
• CSay nothing and forget it
• DTell your friends and your family about it and hope that somebody sorts the problem out

Answer: Contact PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) or ask your GP/hospital for the complaints procedure. Write a letter explaining the problem. They will investigate.

What is 'mental health'?

• AYour emotional and psychological wellbeing✓
• BHow clever you are and how quickly you learn new things
• CYour schools and qualifications
• DYour memory for names

Answer: Mental health is your emotional and psychological wellbeing. It includes stress, anxiety, depression, and happiness. You can get help from your GP.

What is a 'health visitor'?

• AA worker who cleans and tidies the wards in a hospital
• BA friend or relative who comes to see you when you are in hospital
• CSomeone who visits hospitals
• DA nurse who visits families with young children✓

Answer: A health visitor is a trained nurse. They visit families with young children (0-5 years) at home. They check the baby's health and give parenting advice.

What is 'first aid'?

• AEmergency treatment you can give before a doctor arrives✓
• BHelp that a doctor gives you when you arrive at the surgery
• CMedicine that you buy from the chemist for a cough or a cold
• DCare given to you inside a hospital

Answer: First aid is emergency help you can give. Examples: putting a bandage on a wound, CPR (heart massage), recovery position. Many organisations offer first aid training.

What should you do if someone is choking?

• AGive them water
• BTell them to lie flat on the floor
• CGive back blows, then abdominal thrusts, and call 999✓
• DLeave them alone and wait

Answer: NHS advice: first tell them to cough. If that does not work, give up to 5 sharp blows between the shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. If the blockage is still there, give up to 5 abdominal thrusts. Keep repeating, and call 999 if it does not clear. Do not give them food or drink.

What is 'organ donation'?

• AAgreeing to give your organs after death for transplants✓
• BGiving money to a hospital so it can buy new equipment
• CGiving money to a medical charity that pays for research
• DSelling parts of your body to a private clinic for cash

Answer: Organ donation means your organs (heart, liver, kidneys, etc.) can be used to help other people after you die. The UK now has an 'opt out' system: adults are treated as willing to donate unless they record a decision not to. You can record your choice on the NHS Organ Donor Register, and it helps to tell your family.

What is 'social care' or 'social services'?

• ASupport for vulnerable people (elderly, disabled, children, families)✓
• BTraining courses in English, maths, and computers
• CFree medical services for people who are ill, injured, or waiting for an operation
• DMoney, loans, and cheap bank accounts

Answer: Social care (or social services) provides help to vulnerable people. Examples: care for elderly people, support for disabled people, child protection, housing help.