An American Expatriate's Guide to Services Available in Mildenhall, Suffolk, England: Part I

Mildenhall is an ancient market town located in north-west Suffolk, England, that is run by Forest Heath District Council. The nearby USAF base has helped to put Mildenhall on the map, as well as the historic find of Roman Treasure that was discovered in the outskirts of the town in the 1940s, more commonly known as "The Mildenhall Treasure", but which is now safely housed in the British Museum in London. Read on to learn more about services that are available for newcomer's to Mildenhall.

Market Cross Surgery

The Market Cross Surgery meets the medical needs of the young and old in Mildenhall. It is conveniently located in the town centre at 7 Market Place, Mildenhall, Suffolk IP28 7EG. The telephone number is (01638) 713109. When you first move to Mildenhall, you will need to register with the Market Cross Surgery. But to do so, you will first need to see if you are eligible for National Health Service (NHS) coverage. If you are eligible, you and your family members will be issued with a National Health card with a number on it that shows you are eligible for free medical treatment in the UK. Once you receive your card, you will be assigned a GP who will be your first port of call if you have a minor medical complaint that needs to be seen to. If your GP is answering an emergency call, you will be seen by another doctor. Advancing technology means you can sign in electronically when you first arrive at the surgery rather than doing so in person at the reception desk.

Schools

Parents who move to Mildenhall will want to enrol their children into school as soon as possible. Fortunately, there are five schools to choose from, two primary schools (Great Heath and St. Mary's), two middle schools (College Heath and Riverside) and one upper school (Mildenhall College of Technology). Schools are run differently in the UK, with terms rather than semesters, with a 6 week holiday period over summer and time off during Christmas and Easter.

Banks

There are a number of banks and building societies to choose from in Mildenhall such as Barclays PLC, Lloyd's Bank, and the Nationwide Building Society.

Market Day