Introduction

Healthcare in Scotland is provided by NHS Scotland, Scotland’s public health service. There are 14 regional NHS Boards who deliver frontline healthcare services. NHS boards are supported by the Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorates and are accountable to Scottish Ministers. 

Upon settling in Scotland, you should register with a General Practitioner (GP) to access healthcare services. 

Primary & Secondary Care

Primary care is the first point of contact within the NHS. This includes your General Practitioner (GP), dentists, optometrists, and pharmacists. Most health contact is considered primary care – your GP is normally the first port of call when it comes to healthcare. 

Secondary care is a more specialised form of care, often provided in a hospital setting. This means you will need a referral from your GP to access secondary care or you must be referred from Accident & Emergency (A&E).

Secondary care could be any form of specialist physical and mental health care, with a particular focus on conditions that cannot be treated or investigated in general practice. This could be planned or elective care, such as operations, or emergency treatment for fractures.  

Social Care

BN(O) migrants who have social care needs will be able to access care and support from social services, subject to meeting the usual eligibility criteria. This includes those with long-term health conditions, the elderly, and people living with disabilities. 

You should contact your Local Authority’s social care department in the first instance. You can find the contact details for Local Authority social care departments here. Citizens Advice Scotland have provided more information on how to access social care services in Scotland here. 

Unless you or a family member have urgent social care needs, you will usually be assessed by the council to determine what support you may need. This is referred to as a Community Care Assessment. This assessment can also be made on your behalf by a carer, relative, or friend. 

NHS Translation Services 

Many of Scotland’s Health Boards offer a translation service for patients who speak another language. The following Health Boards have posted specific pages on interpreting and translation services:

• NHS Tayside Interpretation & Translation Services
• NHS Lothian Interpreters
• NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Interpreting Service
• NHS Fife Community Interpreting Service
• NHS Borders Translation Services
• NHS Forth Valley Interpretation & Translation

You should check the above or contact your GP in the first instance if you need help with translations or an interpretation service.