NHS letter explained in English

Health service. The National Health Service. It sends appointment letters, test results and, in some cases, bills or penalty charges.

Letters you may get

• Appointment letter — date, time and place of a hospital or clinic appointment
• Penalty charge — they say you claimed free prescriptions or dental care without the right to it
• Invoice for treatment — for some people who aren’t ordinarily resident in the UK

What to do

• If you can’t go to an appointment, tell them as soon as possible so someone else can have it.
• If you got a penalty charge but you did have the right to free care, you can challenge it with proof.
• Find the deadline. Look for “by”, “within”, “no later than”.
• Write the reference number from the letter on everything you send back, and keep copies.
• If you disagree with a decision, object in writing before the deadline (“mandatory reconsideration”, “administrative review”, “representations”, “challenge”, “appeal”, “dispute”, “review”). See the template.

Questions

What is the NHS?

Health service. The National Health Service. It sends appointment letters, test results and, in some cases, bills or penalty charges.

How long do I have to answer a letter from the NHS?

It depends on the letter. Look for words like “by”, “within”, “no later than” — they mark the deadline. In the UK, a letter sent by first class post is usually treated as delivered on the second working day after it was posted. But many deadlines, for example for appeals, count from the date printed on the letter. To object, the letter usually names the way to do it (“mandatory reconsideration”, “administrative review”, “representations”, “challenge”, “appeal”, “dispute”, “review”).

Can I read a NHS letter in English?

Yes. Take a photo of the letter with Briefly. It explains the letter in plain English, finds the deadline and the amount, and gives you ready-made replies in English. Your letter never leaves your device.

Other offices in the United Kingdom

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) · Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) · Council (borough, district or city council) · Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) · TV Licensing · Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) · County Court / Magistrates’ Court / Tribunal (HMCTS) · Enforcement agents (bailiffs)