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Registering with a GP – The Ridgmount Practice
1 December 2020
There are many GP surgeries located just a short walk from campus. It is important for all new students to register there for several reasons.
We strongly recommend that you register with a General Practitioner (or GP as they’re commonly known) within the first few weeks of arriving in London to study at UCL to ensure you can access health care easily if you need it.
If you’re unfamiliar with the UK health system, a GP is a generalist doctor based in a ‘surgery’ or ‘practice’, who can see patients for any physical or mental health concerns. Your GP should always be your first port of call for health issues.
When you move into a hall of residence or private accommodation for university, you don’t automatically get assigned to a new GP practice, so you won’t have access to most health care services until you register.
What is the Ridgmount Practice?
You will need to register with a GP practice close to your new accommodation here in London. Ridgmount Practice is the closest GP practice to UCL Main Campus, located right here in Bloomsbury.
Ridgmount Practice have a team of caring and highly experienced GPs who see thousands of students a year – as such, they’re very familiar with student health issues. Ridgmount Practice offers on-line, video and telephone consultations as well as face to face appointments for physical and mental health. They also offer specialist clinics and services including contraceptives and travel vaccinations.
It is very important to note that you should always call your surgery before attending in person. This will help prevent possible transmission of COVID and other illnesses within the NHS.
Find out more about the Ridgmount Practice here.
How can I check if I’m eligible?
As our local GP surgery, you can register at the Ridgmount Practice if you are a UCL student and live within their catchment area in London.
Catchment areas are determined by postcode. If your address has one of the following postcodes, you’ll be able to register:
NW1, NW3, NW5, NW6, NW8, E1, E2, EC1, EC2, EC3, EC4, WC1, WC2. N1, N4, N5, N6, N7, N8, N10, N11, N13, N15, N16, N17, N19, N22, W1, W2, W8, W10, W11, SE1, SW1, SW3, SW5, SW7.
Use the Royal Mail Postcode Finder if you know your address but don’t know your postcode.
If you have any questions about your eligibility to register with us, please e-mail or call +44 (0)20 7387 6306.
If you don’t know your address yet (for example, if you plan on finding accommodation when you arrive) then you’ll need to wait until your address is confirmed before you can register.
How can I register?
If you’re eligible to register, you’ll first need to complete a simple online form.
At your first appointment please bring your UCL student ID card and proof of address (for example, a bank statement, or your Statement of Student Status letter that you’ll be given at enrolment) with you to this initial consultation.
Below is a QR code which you can use that will take you to the Ridgmount registration page.
What if I live outside the catchment area?
If you live in an area of London outside the Ridgmount Practice’s catchment area (i.e. if you’re in a postcode area that isn’t listed above) then you should register with the closest GP surgery in your local area.
Use this website from the NHS to find your closest GP surgery.
What if I’m only studying at UCL for a short period of time?
If your programme of study at UCL lasts for less than 6 months, then you might not be able to register with a GP, but can usually still be seen as a ‘temporary patient’ for basic health advice and initial treatment.
In this case, it’s best to call your GP surgery first to check. You can call Ridgmount Practice on +44 (0)20 7387 6306.
UCL Student Support and Wellbeing