Many Italians prefer to take out private medical insurance to complement the services of their national health system.

Before leaving:

• Get a European Health Insurance Card from the Post Office. It entitles UK residents to free or low-cost medical treatment when visiting other EU countries.
• Consider private medical or travel insurance for what's not covered by the European Health Insurance Card.

Once you get there:

• Once you have your resident's permit, il Permesso di Soggiorno, you can register at your local health authority, l'Unità Sanitaria Locale - USL, to obtain your national health number. Register with a doctor, un medico convenzionato. The USL will have a list of local doctors and health centres
• Not all medical staff will speak English, so it's a good idea to look up your symptoms in a dictionary first. If you would prefer to communicate in English with medical staff, most British Embassies should be able to provide you with contact details for English-speaking doctors in your area.

Getting there index