There are a range of health care options and health insurance policies to choose from and it's important to know what your choices are to ensure that you get the right treatment for your needs.
The doctor is not necessarily your first point of contact when you are feeling a bit under the weather; in fact you can save time and money by trying some of the other options first.
If your symptoms do not appear to be serious, first speak to your pharmacist - they are trained to recognize symptoms and rest assured that if they consider the symptoms to be serious they will advise you to make an appointment with your doctor.
You can also call the NHS Direct telephone service or visit a local NHS walk-in centre for advice.
NHS walk-in centres are very accessible; they can be found across the UK and are open seven days a week. They are staffed by experienced NHS nurses who can offer help and advice on a number of minor illnesses. These centres are geared to deal with common ailments and medical issues not deemed to be urgent.
Your next step is your local GP surgery and your doctor will be able to help with most ailments. And if necessary, your doctor can recommend a range of further healthcare professionals, including medical specialists, midwives and nurses.
During an emergency it's best to dial 999 for an ambulance or go straight to an accident and emergency (A&E) department at your local hospital. Healthcare professionals in attendance at an A&E are specialized in dealing with serious cases of injury, illness and trauma.
If you are experiencing dental pain it's best to make an appointment with a dentist, but if the pain is intolerable and it's the middle of the night, find an all-night pharmacy. The pharmacist will give you something to help you manage the pain until you can get to a dentist.
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