5.2. Post Office

You will soon find that a postcode is an important location tool and it is often required by local services. A postcode is made up of a combination of letters and numbers.

To find local services in your area go to www.upmystreet.com and fill in your postcode.  Post offices are usually open Monday to Friday from 9.00-17.30 and on Saturday from 9.00-12.00.  For a full range of services visit www.royalmail.com.  Two rates apply for sending letters in the UK: First Class – post will usually arrive the next business day, Second Class – post will usually arrive three business days later.

5.3. Grocery Shopping

All neighbourhoods have decent grocery shops. The main grocery shops have on-line service and offer home deliveries for a small charge. For your nearest supermarket go to www.upmystreet.com this can include:

Marks and Spencer  www.marksandspencer.com

Waitrose  www.waitrose.com their home-delivery service is Ocado www.ocado.com

Sainsbury www.sainsbury.co.uk

Tesco www.tesco.com

Asda www.asda.co.uk

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5.4. Banking

Most UK banks require specific documentation in order to open an account, and the bank’s lack of access to your credit history can make the process long and tedious. (Tip: ask your bank in home country to give you a statement with your temporary address in UK in header so you can prove a credit history to UK banks.)

Applying online is not easier: if you have lived here less than two years they require your previous address and foreign addresses will not fit into their online form.  (Another tip: for foreign nationals who can vote in EU elections (EU nationals) it is wise to register with the town council immediately upon arrival. Banks, building societies and other credit-lending institutions use the electoral register to verify addresses.)

As a rule, be prepared to provide-copies of your last six months’ bank statements and a letter from Shell that is proof of your income when you go to open an account. Banks will also want proof of identity and of residence, usually a recent utility bill and they ask for references.

It is worth noting that Lloyds TSB on York Road next to the Shell Centre is somewhat lenient to streamline account services for foreign nationals coming to the UK.

Banking hours are generally 9.00am – 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, closed on holidays. All major banks have cash machines that operate 24 hours a day at most branches. All UK banks are on a three and a half-day clearing cycle. However, cash deposits are credited immediately. A cheque may be cashed at you own branch bank for any amount. However, to cash a cheque at another bank and/or branch a cheque guarantee care is often required (with the maximum amount noted on the back of the card). Local banks include Abbey National, Barclays, Citibank, Lloyds TSB, NatWest and HSBC.

Traveller’s cheques and foreign currency can be purchased at all major UK banks, however it often requires several days’ advance notice.  Many post office branches have a foreign currency exchange desk and can offer traveller’s cheques. 

UK banks offer two basic types of accounts: current accounts (checking accounts) and deposit accounts (savings accounts). Building Societies offer current accounts. A Direct Debit/Cheque Guarantee Card should be provided with the current account. At the request of the customer, statements can be sent quarterly or monthly.  Cancelled cheques are returned only if requested and a fee is charges.

Building Societies are alternatives to ‘high street’ banks, but they handle foreign transactions through clearing banks. Expatriate banks can set up accounts in different currencies and offer offshore options. Most banks have free online banking facilities. Switch cards and debit cards can be used at ATMs of other banks or in shops and will be issued with your personal

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5.5. Medical

5.5.1. The National Health Service (NHS)

As a resident in the UK, you are eligible to receive medical treatment under the National Health Service at little or no cost. Register with a National Health Service General Practitioner (GP) as soon as possible even if you don’t plan on using it very often and receive private medical insurance through BUPA-International. In most cases you can tap into both systems and use the one you feel is most appropriate at the time you need medical care.

To have access to accident and emergency services you must be registered with a GP. A NHS doctor may also take patients on privately. A list of GPs in your area may be obtained from the public library, chemist, health centre, town hall, Department of Health and the Citizens Advice Bureau. www.upmystreet.com has GP’s listed by postal code.  To understand the health system in the UK better, visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

To register, visit a local surgery to fill out a NHS form and supply passport details for each member of the family and proof of address.  You will receive a letter in the post from the Family Health Service Authority (FHSA) issuing you with a Medical Card stating your NHS number and the name of your GP.  A GP will treat everyday ailments and refer you to a specialist if necessary. Prescriptions are dispensed either at the surgery’s pharmacy or the local chemist. Charges on prescriptions are made per item but are free for children, pregnant women and retired persons.  In cases of emergency dial 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest hospital with an Accident and Emergency department. Lists of hospitals with A & E departments can be found on www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.

5.5.2. NHS Walk-in Centres

NHS Walk-in Centres offer fast and convenient access to a range of NHS services, including health information, advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses (coughs, colds, infections) and minor injuries (strains, sprains, cuts). Most centres are open from early morning to late evening, seven days a week. Experienced NHS nurses run the centres, and you don't need to make an appointment.

Many people continue to go to A&E even when they could be treated just as professionally and usually more quickly at a Minor Injuries Unit/Walk-In Centre. The waiting times are usually much shorter than those in A&E, as staff must give priority to serious and life-threatening conditions. Minor Injuries Units are led by highly qualified nurse practitioners with more experience and expertise than many a doctor in this kind of treatment.

Minor Injuries Units can treat a wide variety of problems including:

Cuts/grazes and lacerations

Sprains and strains

Broken bones (fractures)

Bites and stings (including human/animal bites)

Infected wounds

Minor head injuries

Minor eye infections, foreign bodies & scratches

If you are not sure whether your injury is minor and can be treated in a Minor Injuries Unit, telephone NHS Direct on 0845 4647, who can advise you and direct you to the most appropriate place for your care.  To find your nearest Walk-In Centre/Minor Injuries Unit visit www.nhs.uk click on Walk-In Centres, Nearest Search and enter your postcode or call/email Outpost London.  For immediate and confidential health advice and information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, call the NHS on 0845 4647.

5.5.3. Medicentres

Medicentres provide a doctor service to people living in, working in and visiting London, either by just walking in or by appointment. Medicentres are private and not part of NHS.  You will receive prompt professional service, first-rate medical treatment and advice from a team of doctors and nurses.  More information about this service, its costs and locations in Central London can be found at www.medicentre.co.uk.

5.5.4. Hospitals

There are two types of hospitals: NHS and Private Hospitals. Some NHS hospitals offer private treatment. Private hospitals have no accident and emergency department facilities.  A road sign with an ‘H’ indicates a hospital is in the vicinity. It is used to indicate all types of hospitals, including mental health institutes. A red square with A & E indicates a hospital with an accident and emergency department.  A list of NHS hospitals can be found on www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories.  Private hospitals can be found on www.bupahospitals.co.uk or www.privatehealth.co.uk.  In general, expatriate Shell employees and immediate family are insured with BUPA-International under the Shell Global Medical Scheme (GEMS). For more information visit www.bupa-intl.com.  For the benefits and terms of conditions please refer to the BUPA membership’s guide available at Outpost London.

5.5.5. Alternative (Holistic) Medicine

For a listing of practitioners of alternative medical therapies, contact the following:

The Citizens Advice Bureau, www.adviceguide.org.uk helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advic                             

The British Homeopathic Association, www.trusthomeopathy.org provides a list of homeopathic doctors and a leaflet on how to obtain homeopathic treatment on the NHS. Information packs are available to the public on request. No medical or clinical advice is available from the BHA.

Institute of Complementary Medicine, www.i-c-m.org.uk.  A registered charity that has initiated a research project to develop ways to control, regulate and research all the different disciplines and techniques in ways that protect the qualified practitioners and ensure safety of the general public.

Additionally, health food stores may offer some advice

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5.5.6. Chemist/Pharmacy

Opening hours are normally 9.00 - 17.30, Monday to Saturday, limited hours on Sunday for emergency prescriptions. If you need medicine outside these hours your local pharmacy will display a list of the nearest ones on duty.  The NHS and private insurance companies generally don’t cover the cost of medicines.  People exempt from prescription charges are pregnant women; people under 18 and over 65 years of age.

5.5.7. Health Advice for Travellers

A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles you to reduced-cost, sometimes free, medical treatment that becomes necessary while you're in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland.

If you or any of your dependants are suddenly taken ill or have an accident during a visit to any of these countries, free or reduced-cost necessary treatment is available. Only state-provided treatment is covered, and you will receive treatment on the same terms as ‘insured’ residents of the country you are visiting. Private treatment is generally not covered, and state provided treatment may not cover all the things that you would expect to receive free of charge from the NHS.

The UK has no health care agreements with the rest of the world. This includes some of the most popular destinations such as Canada, US, India, Far East, as well as the whole of Africa.

Who is covered
If you normally live in the UK (like us expats) you are entitled treatment in some of the participating countries. For a full list of countries and their checklist of documents you might have to present, please refer to the booklet ‘Health Advice for Travellers’ available from the post office.

How to apply
You can apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) free of charge online, by phone or by post.  Regardless of how you apply, you will need to have the following information to hand for everyone you are applying for:  Name and date of birth,  NHS or national insurance (NI) number.

For full details and more information about the health care arrangements and treatments in other countries, please pick up a brochure at your nearest post office or visit www.dh.gov.uk

5.5.5. Dentists

Lists of dentists are available at www.nhs.uk or look at www.upmystreet.co.uk

Adults can register by visiting the practice and signing the appropriate form. Children will need to be examined before they may be registered. If your dentist is not able to accept you onto their NHS list, they may offer to see you as a private patient or refer you to another dentist.

Children and young people in full-time education, people over the age of 60, pregnant women and new mothers are entitled to free or reduced dental treatment.

In some areas there are also Dental Access Centres. Anyone who is not currently registered with a NHS dentist will be able to seek treatment from these centres. The centres will not register patients but anyone who is in need of dental treatment will be able to receive treatment.   Call NHS Direct on 845 4647 for your local centre.  The cost of dental treatment will depend on the length and depth of the examination. If you require further treatment, your dentist will discuss your options with you and may provide a dental procedure plan. This is provided free of charge and explains what treatment your dentist recommends, the price for each part of the treatment, and the likely total cost.

BUPA-International GEMS does not pay for dental or oral treatment, however it does pay for emergency dental treatment, see note 3c in the membership guide.

Shell Centre Dental Surgery
Shell employees wishing to use the Shell dental services for their regular dental care must register with the practice. The cost of treatment is based on a fee for items provided and an estimate for treatment will be given. Every effort will be made to provide non-registered employees with emergency care.  Telephone: 020 7934 6206.  Surgery hours: 8.30-1.00 and 2.00-5.15