Health Care

The 48th Medical Group at Royal Air Force Lakenheath provides general and specialized medical services to more than 700 military and civilian members.

Most clinics are open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, but are closed on weekends, holidays and down days. The Emergency Department is open 24/7.

To schedule an appointment, contact central appointments at 011-44-1638-52-8010 or DSN 314-226-8010.

When you move, TRICARE moves with you. No matter where you go in the world, TRICARE is there before, during and when you get to your next duty station.

There are steps you need to take to make sure changes to your TRICARE coverage go smoothly. Understand that when you move, you may have to use a different TRICARE option. Visit TRICARE Moving to learn more.

Before you move, you should take care of any routine medical needs, including immunizations, and fill your prescriptions so you have enough while traveling. If you need care during your move, visit TRICARE Getting Care When Traveling to learn what to do.

Filling prescriptions while traveling

You should refill prescriptions before traveling. But if you run out of a prescription drug while traveling, visit TRICARE Filling Prescriptions When Traveling.

Getting dental care while traveling

Getting dental care while traveling depends on your location and whether you are a service member or family member.

• If you are an active-duty service member within the United States or in U.S. territories, and near a military installation, you may be able to get emergency dental care at the dental treatment facility, or DTF, if available. If not, contact the TRICARE Active Duty Dental Care Program before you see a dentist and tell the contractor about your move. You will need to get an authorization before you see a dentist. The Active Duty Dental Care Program will work with you, so you can get care from a local network dentist.
• If you are an active-duty service member at an overseas location, call the TRICARE overseas regional call center to get authorization before you see a civilian dentist.
• If you are an active-duty family member within the United States, in U.S. territories or at an overseas location, you can find out if any nearby military dental treatment facility treats active-duty family members. If you're enrolled in the TRICARE dental program, call the TRICARE dental program contractor or visit their website to find a provider. You will need to get an authorization before you see the dentist.

With permanent change of station orders, ask for a copy of your medical and dental records from your military treatment facility and the dental treatment facility. Do this at least one month before your PCS date. The MTF should also transfer a copy of your record and any family records to your new duty station or you may be able to hand carry them to your new duty station.

If you want someone else to be able to get medical or dental information on you or your family while you are moving, you need to complete a DD Form 2870, "Authorization for Disclosure of Medical or Dental Information."

For more information on getting copies of medical records, visit TRICARE Request Copies of Medical Records.

Medical Care

The 48th Medical Group at Royal Air Force Lakenheath provides general and specialized medical services to more than 7000 military and civilian members. It is the largest Air Force medical facility in the United Kingdom. The 48 MDG is the referral medical facility for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Army personnel assigned to the U.K., as well as a referral facility for U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Its focus is to provide customers with local service whenever possible. The group also offers several surgical procedures performed nowhere else in the USAFE.

The 48 MDG provides the highest possible quality medical and dental care to all patients. The 48 MDG averages 15,000 patient visits, 350 admissions, 261 surgical procedures and 60 births per month (two babies a day). The medical group provides care for over 26,000 beneficiaries including pay patients locally and another 10,000 throughout Britain and northern Europe.