
Health services
A range of services are available for advice and consultation, whether work is affecting health, or health is affecting work, to ensure that you stay in the best possible shape.
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. Please refer to the doctors and nurses page for information.
Prescriptions
Medicines issued on prescription from a pharmacy are charged at a flat rate of £9.35 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.
Occupational Health Service
The Occupational Health Service is available for advice and consultation on whether work is affecting health, or health affecting work. The service also provides travel advice if you are travelling as part of your studies. The service does not provide general medical treatment or first aid. It is located at 10 Parks Road, Oxford, call 01865 282676, open 08:30-17:00 Monday to Thursday and 08:30-16:00 on Fridays.
Some projects, particularly in science or medicine, may require work-related health surveillance. You should consult your project supervisor or departmental administrator to see if enrolment is necessary and, if so, arrange for the Area Safety Officer to complete a health surveillance registration form and forward it to the Occupational Health Service.
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.