Get advice about health costs and services

This advice applies to Wales. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Scotland

You might have to pay for some NHS Wales services - others are free of charge.

If you need help with health costs

If you're registered with a GP in Wales, you can get free prescriptions from pharmacists in Wales. 

If you live in Wales and you're registered with a GP in England, you can still get free prescriptions - but you'll need an entitlement card. If you don't show the pharmacy your entitlement card, you might be charged. 

If you’ve been charged for a prescription, you can get a refund if you contact the NHS Wales Shared Service Partnership.

If you have certain conditions, you can get free prescriptions anywhere in the UK using a medical exemption certificate. Check if you can get a medical exemption certificate on the Welsh government’s website.

Get help with other health costs

You might also be able to get free dental treatment, eye tests and help with other NHS costs.

Check if you can get help with health costs on the NHS Business Services Authority website.

If you need advice about health services

You can get advice about health conditions and treatments on the NHS 111 Wales website.

There are independent organisations that can help you:

  • get advice about health and social care services

  • make a complaint about a health or social care service

Getting advice about mental health

Mind (National Association for Mental Health)

2 Redman Place

London

E20 1JQ

Helpline: 0300 123 3393,

Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm

Legal Advice Service: 0300 466 6463

Telephone (general enquiries): 020 8519 2122

Email (helpline): info@mind.org.uk

Email (legal advice service): legal@mind.org.uk

Email (general enquiries): contact@mind.org.uk

Website: www.mind.org.uk

Mind is a mental health charity that provides advice on:

  • managing your mental health

  • where to get help

  • medication

  • the law about mental health

YoungMinds

Suite 11

Baden Place

Crosby Row

London

SE1 1YW

Free text line for young people: Text ‘YM’ to 85258

Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544, 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday

Tel: 020 7089 5050

Fax: 020 7407 8887

Email (Parents Helpline): parents@youngminds.org.uk

Email (general enquiries): ymenquiries@youngminds.org.uk

Website: www.youngminds.org.uk

Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.

YoungMinds is a mental health charity that helps children, young people and their parents.

Complaining about a health service

If you have a problem with an NHS service you should complain directly to them. You can find out how to make a complaint or give feedback to NHS Wales on the Welsh government’s website.

You can tell Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) about your concern with any healthcare service. HIW can check that healthcare services meet the correct standards of quality and safety. They can’t help you directly with your problem - for example, they can’t help you get compensation. HIW is part of the Welsh government and isn’t run by the NHS.

You can also give feedback about a healthcare service on the HIW website.

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales

Welsh Government

Rhydycar Business Park

Merthyr Tydfil

CF48 1UZ

Telephone: 0300 062 8163

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Excluding public holidays

Email: hiw@gov.wales

Website: www.hiw.org.uk

Raising a concern about your employer

If you’re a member of staff at a care service, you can check how to report a concern on the HIW website. You’ll need to open the ‘Raising concerns about Healthcare in Wales’ document at the bottom of the page.

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