Health services in Oxford

The UK health service is known as the National Health Service or NHS.

Visit the NHS website for more information.

How to translate NHS information

You can access the NHS website using Google Translate.

Family doctor

A family doctor in the UK is called a GP (General Practitioner) and is usually your first point of contact for your medical needs. Anyone in England can register with a GP surgery to access NHS services. It's free to register. Find a GP on the NHS website.

You do not need proof of address or immigration status, ID or an NHS number.

To speak to your GP, you need to make an appointment in advance.

If your GP practice is closed and you cannot wait until they re-open, please phone 111 or try the 111 online NHS website.

Accident & Emergency

If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E (Accident & Emergency). Find your nearest A&E on the NHS website. Please be prepared that you might wait in a long queue in A&E and it might take a long time before you are seen. Don’t go to A&E unless your issue is urgent.

Pharmacists

Pharmacists can offer treatment and some prescription medicine for some conditions, without you needing to see a GP. See how pharmacies can help on the NHS website.

Hospitals

You can't go to see a specialist doctor at an NHS hospital without a referral letter from your GP. The exception is when you need to access to sexual health clinics or A&E treatment. If you wish to be referred to a specialist in a particular field, you should first talk to your GP.

Dentists

Finding an NHS Dental service has been a challenge for many patients since the coronavirus pandemic. The Dental Flexible Commissioning Scheme 2024-25 aims to help vulnerable groups, including asylum seekers and refugees, access to an NHS dentist. See Dental practices taking part in the scheme from 1 April 2024.

Opticians

Opticians check if you are entitled to free NHS eye tests and see which opticians offer NHS sight tests in Oxford and surrounding area.

Sexual Health

Oxfordshire Sexual Health Service offers STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) testing kits, contraception and emergency contraception, HIV care and other services.

Cervical screening

You can watch a Cervical screening video on Youtube in Bengali, Hindi, Chinese, Urdu, Tamil, Somali, Dari, Pashto, Kurdish, Farsi, Ukrainian to understand what cervical screening (smear test) is.

Mental Health

There are many services within NHS or other organisations which can help you with your emotional and mental health. See Oxfordshire mental health resources and support on the Healthwatch Oxfordshire website.

Some examples of mental health conditions are:

sleep disorders
anxiety
depression
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

Oxfordshire Safe Haven

If you experience mental health crisis, you can get support with Oxfordshire Safe Haven by calling 01865 903 037. This is a non-clinical service open every day offering listening support for people who are experiencing mental health crisis.

Oxfordshire Talking Therapies

Oxfordshire Talking Therapies is a free NHS Talking Therapies service for Oxfordshire. Visit he Oxfordshire Talking Therapies website and complete your online referral form or call on 01865 901 222.

Refugee Resource

Refugee Resource offers counselling and psychotherapy free to refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants who are experiencing mental or emotional distress. Visit the Refugee Resource website, call 01865 403286 or email info@refugeeresource.org.