Emergencies: For the police, ambulance or fire service call 999
NHS Direct: For free non-emergency medical advice call 0845 4647, or visit nhsdirect.nhs.uk
British Pregnancy Advisory Service: for advice, emergency contraceptives and pregnancy tests, call 0845 730 4030, or visit bpas.org
Sexual Health Information Line: for 24-hour advice, call 0800 567 123, or visit playingsafely.co.uk
To find the nearest doctor, dentist or pharmacy, visit nhs.uk
Here is a list of London hospitals with 24-hour accident and emergency departments:
Charing Cross: Fulham Palace Road, 0208 846 1234
Chelsea Royal: Royal Hospital Road, 0207 730 0161
Chelsea & Westminster: 369 Fulham Road, 0208 746 8000
Guy’s Hospital: St. Thomas Street, 0207 188 7188
Royal Free: Pond Street, Hampstead, 0207 794 0500
Royal London: Whitechapel Road, 0207 377 7000
St. George’s: Blackshaw Road, 0208 672 1255
St. Mary’s: Praed Street, 0207 886 6666
St. Thomas’s: Lambeth Palace Road, 0207 188 7188
If you need emergency dental treatment, try…
Eastman’s: 256 Gray’s Inn, 0207 915 1000
And if you need emergency eye treatment, try…
Moorfield’s Eye Hospital: 162 City Road, 0207 253 3411
NHS walk-in health centres provide treatment for minor injuries and illnesses. You do not need a doctor’s appointment, and you will be treated by a nurse. The clinic’s opening hours are generally between 8AM and 10PM.
Charing Cross Hospital: Fulham Palace Road, 0208 846 1234
Soho: 1 Frith Street, 0207 534 6500
Royal London: Whitechapel Road, 0207 943 1333
Here are London’s three main pharmacies and chemists:
Boots: 0115 950 6111, wellbeing.com
Lloyds: 0247 643 2400, lloydspharmacy.com
Superdrug: 0208 684 7000, superdrug.com
And here are the four main opticians:
Boots: 0845 070 8090, wellbeing.com
D&A: 0121 706 6133, danda.co.uk
Specsavers: 0148 123 6000, specsavers.co.uk
Vision Express: 0115 986 5225, visionexpress.com
Whilst British citizens receive free health care through the NHS, private treatment can also be purchased from organizations such as BUPA.
EU citizens can also be treated on the NHS – provided that they have an E111 form. This must be signed and stamped before they leave their home country.
Some non-EU countries have reciprocal health agreements with the UK, meaning their citizens can obtain treatment in London hospitals. It is usually necessary to provide a passport as proof of residence.
Countries with reciprocal agreements include: Anguilla, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Channel Islands, Croatia, Czech Republic, Falkland Islands, Hungary, Macedonia, Malta, Montserrat, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Russia and Slovenia
Please note: The United States and Canada do not have agreements with the UK, and a comprehensive travel insurance policy is recommended.
Most of London’s tourist attractions have facilities for the disabled. But hotels, pubs and restaurants should be checked out beforehand.
The Holiday Care Service can advise you on accommodation suitable for wheelchair users. Telephone 0845 124 9971 for more details.
Artsline can advise you on tourist attractions and entertainment venues. Telephone 0207 388 2227, or visit dircon.co.uk for more details.
London has numerous advice lines if you need someone to talk to. The most respected ones are as follows:
Alcoholics Anonymous: call 0207 833 0022, or visit alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Childline: If you’re young and in trouble, call 0800 1111, or visit childline.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau: for free and impartial legal advice, visit citizensadvice.org.uk
Narcotics Anonymous: call 0207 730 0009, or visit ukna.org
National Missing Persons Helpline: If you’ve lost someone, or if you’re a runaway yourself and want to send a message home, call 0500 700 700, or visit missingpersons.org
Refuge Helpline: If you’re a child or woman suffering domestic violence, call 0808 200 0247, or visit refuge.org.uk
Samaritans: If you’re suffering from any kind of emotional upset, call 0845 790 9090, or visit samaritans.org.uk
Victim Support: If you are the victim of a crime and want support and advice, call 0845 303 0900, or visit victimsupport.com