Help CenterIn an emergency there are qualified first-aiders available at all ISH sites, usually the Duty Manager (call 020 7631 8375 for assistance). All long-term ISH residents should register with a doctor (also known as a General Practitioner or GP), either close to their residence or on campus. Please do this soon after you arrive at ISH, rather than waiting until you fall ill. If you are new to the UK, you will need to show the Health Centre your passport or ID card, as well as a letter from ISH or your university confirming your London address.
There are two local Health Centres where long-term ISH residents can register:
Fitzrovia Medical Centre, 31 Fitzroy Square, W1T 6EU https://www.fitzroviamedicalcentre.co.uk/ or
Cavendish Health Centre, 53 New Cavendish Street, W1G 9TQ https://cavendishhealth.nhs.uk/
Under the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), GP consultations are normally free of charge for students on courses of more than six months but you will be charged for any prescribed medications (currently £9.90 per item). Note that dental services and eye care are not free of charge. Minor illnesses (colds, flu, headaches etc) can often be treated with medication purchased from a pharmacy. Pharmacists are trained to recognise and advise on a range of common health conditions and will recommend treatment or refer you to your GP as necessary. See https://www.nhs.uk/livewell/pharmacy/pages/commonconditions.aspx for more information.
Short-term students (in the UK for less than 6 months) should have their own medical insurance as they will not normally be able to register with a GP but can consult with pharmacists or access the NHS emergency services.
The NHS also has a series of Walk-in Urgent Care Centres around London. The nearest one to ISH is the University College Hospital, at 235 Euston Road, NW1 2BU.
- Vaccinations
If possible, you should obtain the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) and Meningitis C vaccinations before coming to the UK. If you cannot get these in your home country, please arrange to be vaccinated as soon as you have registered with a doctor.
See UKCISA’s useful guide to healthcare in the UK at: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Studying--living-in-the-UK/Health-and-healthcare