Internal Medicine in United Kingdom

Internal medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of internal diseases in adults. It covers a wide variety of conditions that affect the internal organs of the body, including the heart, liver and gastrointestinal tract, lungs, kidneys, and urinary tract, spinal column, brain, nerves, muscles, and joints. Physicians who specialize in internal medicine are called internists or internal medicine physicians. They treat adults of all ages and are usually the first point of treatment. Internists are skilled in the management of patients who have multi-system disease processes. There are numerous subspecialties, including endocrinology, cardiology, infectious diseases, hematology, pulmonary disease, gastroenterology, rheumatology, oncology, and immunology.

Since internal medicine is a broad field, the work of internists varies a lot. For example, they could work with a patient who has diabetes and another patient with an ear infection. Some of the most common conditions that are diagnosed and treated by internists are as follows:

• Asthma
• Acute respiratory infections
• Diabetes
• Chest pain
• Bronchitis
• Fatigue
• Hypertension
• Influenza
• High blood cholesterol and triglycerides
• Menopause
• Hypothyroidism
• Sinus infections
• Osteoarthritis
• Migraine
• Pneumonia
• Osteoporosis.

Internists mainly focused on the diagnosis and treatment with medications. The following are some common procedures they perform:

• Chronic disease management
• Breathing treatments and medications
• General health procedures, such as immunization and annual physical exam
• Medication administration, such as antibiotic injections and intravenous fluid for dehydration
• Minor procedures, such as stitches, stitch or staple removal, wart removal
• Pre-operative and post-operative care
• Injury-related procedures, such as immobilizing sprains
• Healthy lifestyle counseling
• Family planning prescriptions and treatments, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), oral contraceptives, and hormone patches and shots
• Nutrition and weight counseling, such as ways to avoid malnutrition and maintain a normal weight.

How Long Should I Stay in United Kingdom?                   

Your length of stay depends on the procedure you underwent and the illness or disease you have. Plan to stay in United Kingdom for at least 2 to 7 days. Before you are allowed to travel home, your doctor may schedule a follow-up appointment where your doctor evaluates how your body is responding to treatments. 

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Since internal medicine covers a wide range of conditions, the recovery time can vary a lot. The recovery period depends on the type of treatment, specific condition, and overall health. Most of the time, you will be allowed to resume normal activities (usually with certain restrictions) once you do not feel any symptoms that interfere with your ability to perform your daily tasks. However, make sure to talk to your doctor first before you decide to return to work and go back to your normal routine. Your doctor will likely give you a detailed recovery timeline. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your doctor will give you a specific aftercare instruction that is designed for your specific condition. Make sure to follow all the instructions closely to avoid complications and to have a quick recovery time. If your doctor prescribes medicine, ensure to take it as directed. With chronic disease management, you will be given tips for self-management, and you may need to see your internist regularly.

What's the Success Rate?

The continuous advancement of internal medicine and medical technology, as well as the extensive knowledge and experience of internists, have made internal medicine procedures highly successful and safe. All medical procedure carries some types of risks, but the risks of internal medicine procedures are typically minimal. For example, a medication used for breathing treatment may cause headaches, nervousness, shakiness, irritability, and heart palpitations.

Are there Alternatives?

The alternative depends on the specific disease or illness you have. In most cases, seeing an internist is the first point of treatment. Your internist may then refer you to or work with the relevant specialists.

Internal Medicine in and around United Kingdom

About the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy comprising much of the British Isles. This Union is more than 300 years old and comprises four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It occupies all of the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern portion of the island of Ireland, and most of the remaining British Isles. The UK is an island nation but shares an open land border with Ireland. The UK has a population of 65 million people, the capital and largest city is London.

The United Kingdom welcomes an ever-increasing number of medical tourists each year, many of which travel for Internal Medicine procedures. The government provides all British citizens free or low-cost care under the NHS, also known as the National Health System, leaving a small private sector for routine operations, which caters to people that do not want to wait in line for elective procedures or are not citizens or residents of the Islands. 

Popular Parts of United Kingdom

Made up of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom is filled with vibrant cities and tranquil countryside.

• England is home to London, United Kingdom’s largest city and capital which also serves as its financial center. Today, the country continues to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Although most tourists stay in London, the country actually has a plethora of attractions spread all over its cities. Tourists can check out Buckingham Palace, visit the Tower of London, explore Stonehenge, relax on the beach in Brighton, hike Hadrian’s Wall, or go museum hopping.
• Scotland is popular for its welcoming locals, beautiful parks, ancient architecture, spectacular lochs and mountains, and delightful whiskey. Its vast wilderness area is a great place to have some fantastic outdoor adventures. The country is rich in history and culture, which is evident in its hundreds of castles and historical sites. It also has glorious cities, such as Edinburgh, a city filled with parks, museums, cobblestone streets, and pubs.
• Wales might be tiny, but this green country offers countless opportunities for its inhabitants and visitors to escape into nature. The country is mainly mountainous, making it a hiker’s paradise. Its higher peaks lie in the north and central areas, including the famous Snowdon. Not only widely-known for its lush greenery, but the country is also a wonderful beach destination. In the summer, families will fill up the beaches to soak up the sun and kids will be running around in the sand. Wales’s beautiful landscape is complemented by stunning castles which should not be missed by any visitors.
• Northern Ireland is often overlooked by tourists, but once they arrive, they will be surprised by its serene scenery, friendly people, and scrumptious food scene.  Giant’s Causeway, the country’s only UNESCO World Heritage site, has been attracting visitors from all around the world. It is a remarkable hexagonal-stone formation with an interesting magical tales behind it. Another popular attraction is the Titanic Belfast, a museum that provides nine galleries where visitors can discover the Titanic story. Visitors will be able to learn about the ship’s construction and get new insights into its disastrous demise.

Weather and Climate in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom enjoys a temperate climate and has plenty of rain all year round. Tourists can visit any time of year as it does not experience extreme weather. There is a great variety of changeable weather, but the overall weather and seasons are generally the same throughout this sovereign country. 

• The Spring months are from late March to early June and this season is known to be one of the best times to visit the United Kingdom because the weather is warming up and beautiful spring flowers are blooming and the temperatures range from 9 °C to 12 °C.
• Summer is from June to August and is the hottest season of the year but the temperatures rarely rise above 35 °C. Although rainfall will decrease during this season, prepare to find some rainy days. During this season, some cities like London experiences approximately 15 hours of sunshine.
• September to November is Autumn, and it has a variety of weather. The early months of September and October are still quite warm, but the temperatures will decrease in November. Typically, November is also the wettest month of the year.
• With an average temperature of 4 °C, Winter is the coldest season in the United Kingdom. The season can be wet and windy with frost and occasional snow. Winter also experiences minimal daylight. Despite the gloomy weather, it is an enjoyable time to visit the large cities because the tourist attractions are usually quieter and the cities can be very festive. 

Getting Around in the United Kingdom

There are plenty of airports in the United Kingdom, but the busiest and the largest airport is the London Heathrow Airport. It is the second busiest airport in the world after Dubai Airport. The airport has international connections with almost every country around the globe, including countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and North America. It also serves domestic flights which provide an easy way to travel around the United Kingdom. There are budget airlines that offer a more affordable option for those who want to get around by plane. 

The United Kingdom is very well connected by plane, train, and bus. The train is the most popular mode of transport and one of the most comfortable. Tickets can be booked online and it can be expensive, but most trains are equipped with air conditioning and sometimes Wi-Fi. There are two classes of train, the Standard Class and the First Class. Big cities and towns are usually connected by a regular bus service. The cost can be cheap, but the further you travel away from a city, the more expensive the cost. It is best to invest in an Oyster Card if you wish to travel by bus.

Taxis are available in most cities. There are two types of taxis; the metered taxis (painted in black) and private hire taxis (known as minicabs). The taxis should have a taxi-license displayed on the dashboard. The metered taxis can be hailed directly from the streets, while the minicabs have to be ordered via telephone. The minicabs are usually more affordable than the metered taxis because they operate on fixed prices and sometimes are even open to negotiation.

Tourist Visas in the United Kingdom

Citizens of the European Union can enter the United Kingdom without a visa. Additionally, British Nationals who are not European Union citizens and nationals of 56 countries can enter and stay for up to 180 days (90 days if they enter from the Republic of Ireland). Citizens of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE can obtain an online electronic visa waiver (EVW). Other nationals not listed in the visa-exempt for stays in the UK (including China and Russia) need to apply and obtain a visa before entering the country.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: Pound sterling is the official currency (£). US$ 1 will get you £0.8.
2. Money & Payments: International ATMs that allow foreigners to withdraw cash directly from their home account can be found easily across the United Kingdom. Credit cards are accepted in restaurants, shops, and hotels (mostly Visa and MasterCard). Tipping varies between countries, but generally optional.
3. Local Language: English is the official language and spoken by approximately 98% of the population. A number of regional languages are also spoken (Welsh, Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Cornish). There are also people who will speak some foreign languages, mainly French, German, and Spanish.
4. Local Culture and Religion: Christianity is the most popular religion. However, more than 25% of the population follows no religion. Other religions such as Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, and Buddhism are in the minority.
5. Public Holidays: There is a variation of public holidays in the United Kingdom. Typically, the countries celebrate New Year’s Day and Christmas Day.