At SASH we want to make sure everyone has the information, knowledge and tools to be confident with their health and sexual wellbeing, which means knowing your Rights.
Registering with a GP
Everyone in England, Scotland, and Wales is eligible to register with a GP and receive primary care services free of charge, regardless of immigration status. This means tourists, or those from abroad visiting friends or family in England, should be treated in the same way as a UK resident.
Registration cannot be declined if a person does not have proof of ID, address, NHS number or immigration status. If individuals can’t provide these documents, they should say that they don’t have these documents but that they do live within the practice boundary and would like to register with the GP as a patient.
Registering patients are not required to complete the supplementary questions in the English GMS1 registration form relating to immigration status.
If a GP practice has refused to register, patients in England can call 0300 311 2233
This information can also be emailed to the GP practice.
Sexual Health, HIV and Contraception Services
Anyone in the UK can access free sexual health and HIV testing, prevention and treatment, as well as contraception services, regardless of your immigration status. You do not need to be registered with a GP or to even give your real name.
It is advisable to provide the clinic your correct telephone number as you may be texted any results or guidance to return to the clinic for additional support.
SASH can provide support arranging a sexual health or contraception clinic appointment.
Abortion Care
Legally people in the UK can access abortions within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. In rare circumstances, such as risk of life to the mother, some abortions may be carried out after 24 weeks.
There are three main ways to access abortion care in the UK:
- Self-refer by contacting BPAS , MSI or NUPAS.
- Speak to your GP and ask for a referral to an abortion service
- Contact your sexual health clinic, asking for a referral to an abortion service
Most women living in the UK can access a free abortion through the NHS.
To assess your eligibility for a free abortion your abortion clinic will need your real name, address and contact details of your GP. You may also be asked for your NHS number, if you don’t know your NHS number, you can find out what it is here.
If you are not registered with a GP in the UK, you may not be able to access a free abortion, although you can still access a legal abortion paid for privately.
If you are unsure if you are eligible for NHS funded abortion care, you can call BPAS at 03457 30 40 30 for more information and support.
If you are currently in the UK but do not have access to NHS funding and are more than 10 weeks pregnant, please contact the Abortion Support Network for advice on funding.
Maternity Care
Everyone in the UK is entitled to maternity care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and after baby is born, whatever your citizenship or immigration status is. This includes scans, blood tests, midwife and obstetric care.
Whether you need to pay for maternity care can be a little complicated. Maternity care is likely to be free for someone ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, this can include asylum seekers or refugees awaiting decision, people who have paid the Immigration Health Surcharge when applying for your visa. If you are a British citizen but usually live abroad you may also be charged for NHS maternity care.
However, maternity care at all stages of pregnancy is deemed an ‘immediate necessity’ and the NHS must provide you this care without delay whether you are able to pay or not, or if the hospital is unsure if you need to pay.
If it has been decided you will need to pay, the NHS Trust must tell you. It can be difficult to know what the costs can be, but likely to be at least £7000. The NHS will set up a payment plan with you, and will notify the Home Office about any outstanding charges of over £500 overdue for over two months.
For more information about maternity care in the UK or if you are concerned about any costs, visit Maternity in Action.
If one or both parents of a child born in the UK are not already British citizens, whether or not the child born is a British citizen will depend on some factors and it is worth checking.
Sexual Relationships and Marriage
The legal age of sex consent in the UK is 16., however it remains illegal to take, receive or share any intimate or sexual images involving anyone under the age of 18.
In the UK, people aged 18+ in heterosexual or same sex relationships can marry or enter into civil partnerships. Being married or in a civil partnership can sometimes provide you and your partner financial protections and additional rights. Going into marriage or civil partnership must be something you and your partner consent to without force or pressure from others. In the UK it is illegal to coerce or force a civil partner or spouse to have sex without consent.
While it is legal to be in a same sex marriage in the UK, you can only marry within a religious ceremony if the religious organisation has agreed and is registered to perform same sex marriages. Same sex marriage is not currently permitted within the Church of England or Church of Wales.
Religious marriage ceremonies are not legally recognised unless specific legal requirements are met and in some cases partners will need a civil marriage alongside their religious ceremony. In the UK, civil partnerships and marriage can be legally recognised when there are two people in the relationship, and if a partner wishes to take a second, third or fourth spouse, in order to be legal marriage, there would need to be a dissolution or divorce of the first union.
Ending a marriage or civil partnership
In the UK, ending a marriage is called ‘divorce’ and ending a civil partnership is called ‘dissolution’, however many of the processes will be the same. People are only able to divorce or get a dissolution after one year of marriage or civil partnership, but this does not mean you need to stay together. You can apply for a divorce or dissolution alone or together with your partner, and you do not need your partner’s permission in order to complete the divorce.
If you are in the UK on a spousal visa, and you're in an abusive relationship and concerned about the impact of leaving the relationship on your immigration status, you can apply for a concession that gives you temporary permission to stay in the UK and apply to claim benefits if your relationship broke down because of domestic abuse.
For more support with domestic abuse, please call National Domestic Abuse Advice Line which is free and open 24 hours a day: 0808 2000 247
People who are Transgender or Non-Binary
In England, Scotland and Wales, people who identify as Transgender are protected under The Equality Act 2010. This means you are entitled to live free from discrimination, such as at work, in shops, when renting a home or seeking healthcare. You don’t need to have legally changed your name or completed the gender recognition certification in order to be protected under the equality act.
If you decide to change your name you can do this socially by asking people and introducing yourself with your preferred name, as well as legally via deed poll.
A Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) is a process to gain legal recognition of your affirmed gender, although in the UK only ‘male’ and ‘female’ is legally recognised while ‘non-binary’ is not.
Need more support?
You can get support with any of the topics covered here, as well as support with your sexual health and wellbeing from us here at SASH.