Health services

Health care

The National Health Service (NHS) is the national healthcare system in the United Kingdom which is publicly funded. In order to access NHS healthcare in the UK, you must register with a doctor (also know as a General Practitioner or GP). 

For primary healthcare, you are advised to register with your college doctor, other local GP or with a local private medical practice for treatment.

On registering with a doctor you will be given an NHS Number if you do not already have one, and will be asked for the dates of your immunisations. You will also have an opportunity to arrange immunisations if you still need to receive them. 

Please refer to the doctors and nurses page for information.

The NHS also provide advice on getting medical care as a student.

Further sexual health advice can be found on the Oxfordshire Sexual Health Service website.

Prescriptions

Medicines issued on prescription from a pharmacy are charged at a flat rate of £9.65 per item. The exception is the contraceptive pill which is free, but needs to be prescribed by a doctor first. Many overseas students find that their prescriptions may not be available in the UK. Check in good time that your prescriptions are available, so that alternatives can be arranged if needed.

Dentists

For routine or emergency dental treatment you should seek the advice of your college doctor or nurse. Damira Dental Studios, NHS dental care for Oxford, is located at Brookes campus on Headington Hill.

For out of hours emergency care, contact the East Oxford Emergency Dental Clinic on 0845 3458995. Open from 18:30-22:00 weekday evenings and all day at weekends. Alternatively, you can contact the NHS 111 Service: Tel. 111.

Opticians

Colleges do not normally have a special arrangement with opticians, so you should register with an optician of your choice. Charges for sight tests vary. If you have a visual problem which requires specialised attention, you will be referred to the hospital eye service.

Travel vaccinations

These are available by appointment with your GP or by visiting a travel clinic. Some travel vaccinations are chargeable. For more information, see the NHS travel vaccination guidance.

Oxford Physiotherapy Service

TOPS (The Oxford Physiotherapy Service) offers treatment for pain relief, healing, rehabilitation and the prevention of injury. Appointments are available all through the year from either the main clinic in Summertown or alternatively by at the Oxford University Club, Mansfield Road.