Reviewed by The Wellness Clinical Team. Last reviewed 23 October 2026.
Can I use a UK doctor if I live abroad?
You can reach a private UK doctor by phone or video from abroad, and be seen in person when you are in London. What the doctor can prescribe or treat remotely depends on the law where you are, so some things will need a local doctor, which the membership team arranges. A membership at The Wellness is built for that. It is not travel insurance and not an emergency service, so call local emergency numbers in an emergency. (As of October 2026.)
What are UK citizens living abroad entitled to on the NHS?
GOV.UK guidance for NHS providers (Charging overseas visitors in England, 20 May 2026) says NHS hospital charges apply to people who are not "ordinarily resident" in the UK, meaning not living here on a lawful, voluntary and settled basis for the time being. A UK citizen who now lives abroad is therefore generally an overseas visitor for hospital charging, and can be charged for NHS hospital treatment unless an exemption applies. The same guidance says primary care, including GP services, is outside the charging regulations, so overseas visitors cannot be charged for NHS GP services. In practice that means NHS hospital care is not something to rely on from abroad, and an NHS GP can only help you when you are in England.
What does an expat membership give you?
From the live membership page (reviewed 15 October 2026): your doctor by phone or video, usually within the hour, from abroad too but limited by the rules of the country you are in; same-day appointments in person in London whenever you are in town; a doctor at your home, hotel or office on house calls in London; and, when you need to be seen abroad, a trusted local doctor or clinic found for you, booked, with your record sent ahead. Your records stay yours.
What it is not
The primary-care memberships (Signature and Platinum) do not pay hospital bills and are not international health insurance. The Global memberships are described on the membership page as inpatient, outpatient and dental care in the cities served, with their own terms: ask the membership team what they cover before relying on them in place of insurance. If you live overseas, you still need a plan for hospital costs, whether that is local cover, international health insurance or your employer's scheme. A primary-care membership works alongside that cover and helps you use it well.
What can a UK doctor do for you remotely when you are abroad?
Advice, triage, interpreting results, reviewing a plan and deciding what to do next travel well. Treatment and prescribing are more limited. GMC guidance says a UK-registered doctor offering remote services to patients overseas should check whether they must register with regulators in the country where the patient is, and where any medicine would be dispensed, and have indemnity that covers practice in the countries involved. For prescribing they must consider monitoring, legal restrictions on particular medicines and differences in licensing between countries, and follow UK and overseas law on import and export. So a doctor may be able to advise you but not issue a prescription in every country, and sometimes the right answer is local care, which is where arranging a local doctor or clinic, with your record sent ahead, comes in.
Who uses it
- British families and professionals posted overseas who want one doctor who knows their history.
- Frequent flyers who are in London a few times a year and want continuity.
- People moving home who want a doctor in place before they arrive.
Related reading: a UK doctor for British expats.
Join online in a few minutes and your membership starts the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to live in the UK to join?
No. Your doctor is available by phone or video from abroad. Remote prescribing and treatment depend on the rules in your country.
Does it replace international health insurance?
Signature and Platinum do not. They do not pay hospital bills. Global memberships have their own terms; ask the team.
What happens if I need care where I live?
We find a trusted local doctor or clinic, book you in and send your record ahead.
Are my records mine?
Yes. You can read and download them at any time.
Sources
- GOV.UK, Charging overseas visitors in England: guidance for providers of NHS services, 20 May 2026: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-cost-recovery-overseas-visitors/charging-overseas-visitors-in-england-guidance-for-providers-of-nhs-services
- GMC, Remote prescribing high level principles: https://www.gmc-uk.org/professional-standards/learning-materials/remote-prescribing-high-level-principles
- GMC, Guidance on prescribing for patients overseas: https://www.gmc-uk.org/professional-standards/learning-materials/prescribing-for-patients-overseas
- The Wellness, Membership: https://www.thewellnesslondon.com/membership
This article is general information and not a substitute for medical advice about your own health.