Doctors and Health

First aid  

In an emergency there are qualified first­-aiders available at ISH, 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.  

Registering with a doctor

Long-term students: all long-term residents should register with a doctor (also known as a general practitioner or GP). Do this soon after you arrive, do not wait until you fall ill. To register, you will need to show your passport or ID card, as well as a letter from ISH or your university confirming your London address.

Local health centers

There are two local Health Centres where long-term residents at Great Portland Street and Wills House 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/ 

For residents of Blain House, the local medical centre is: 

The nearest one is:
University College Hospital
235 Euston Road, NW1 2BU

Medical Costs

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.

Pharmacy

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/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pharmacies-can-help/  for more information.

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  

Meningitis
Following some recent outbreaks at British universities, the UK government is offering free MenB vaccinations in Autumn 2026. This programme will be applicable to:

• New undergraduates coming to university for the   first time in Autumn 2026
• Students who will be living in halls of residence for the first time in Autumn 2026

There is an age limit: your 25th birthday must be after 31 December 2026. The vaccination requires two doses, with the second  to be given at least four weeks after the first. 
 
After the second dose, it takes another two weeks to build good immunity. For that reason, the Government is suggesting that if you are an international student who has not yet come to the UK, then you will be better protected if you have at least the first dose before you leave your home country if possible. However, as MenB vaccines are not available in all 
countries, both the first dose and the second dose can be given to you in the UK.

If you are an international student who has not yet travelled to the UK, find out whether the MenB vaccine is available in your home country. The name of the vaccine that will be used in the UK is Bexsero.

Find out more about Meningitis, including symptoms: www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/