NHS

en-aych-ESS /ˌen eɪtʃ ˈes/

Neutral Neutral

What it really means

The National Health Service — the UK's public health system. Most NHS care is free at the point of use for people who live in the UK, though some things (like prescriptions in England or dental care) have charges.

Chinese explanation

英国国家医疗服务体系（National Health Service）。对居住在英国的人来说，大部分NHS医疗在使用时免费，但有些项目（如英格兰的处方药和牙科）需要付费。

Example conversation

A: Do I have to pay to see a doctor here? B: No, seeing a GP on the NHS is free. You just need to register first.

A：在这里看医生要付钱吗？ B：不用，通过NHS看全科医生是免费的，你只需要先注册。

What you could say back

“Good to know. How do I register?”

Related phrases

GP Registering with a GP NHS number

Official sources

Rules and amounts change — confirm important details with the official source.

Go deeper

Dentists and Opticians in the UK: Costs, NHS Bands and How to Get Seen How the NHS Works: Where to Go When You Are Ill in England Mental Health Support in the UK: Where to Turn and How It Works

All Healthcare & NHS

Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team · Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake