Health Care

Register with your local clinic (called the Surgery). They will provide forms to fill out and later you will be sent confirmation that you and each separate member of your family have a National Insurance Number. This identifies you as being eligible for free health care within county guidelines.

		National Health Service
		Registering With a General Practitioner
		Medical Emergencies
		Area Public Hospitals
		Private Hospitals
		General Practitioners or Surgeries
		Private Doctors
		London Hospitals With Emergency Department
		Dermatologists
		Orthopaedic
		Chiropractor
		Osteopath
		Entomologist
		Eye Specialist
		Nutritionist
		Occupational Therapist
		Optometrist
		Pediatric Endocrinologist
		Pediatric Urologist
		Pharmacies
		Opticians
		Dentists and Orthodontists

National Health Service

Generally speaking, under the NHS system, you are expected to use a doctor that serves your area. This does mean that there is still some choice allowed, as several doctors serve each area. Check phone listings under Medical Practitioners. Some Medical Centres have been known to tell people that they must apply as a private patient for one year before they qualify. This means that you pay or your company pays the bills. We are not sure why they are allowed to do this, but you may be assured that there are many Doctors working under the NHS and that you are eligible immediately.

Access the NHS website for the borough of Hillingdon. Visitors can find local GPs, dentists, pharmacies or opticians, and look up details of national and local health services.

Registering With a General Practitioner

When you register with a Doctor, you are actually registering to see anyone who works out of that practice. However, if you are willing to wait and the doctor you want is available, you can choose. Regular M.D.s, consultants, and specialists are called "Dr.", while consultant/specialist surgeons are called "Mr." For vaccines and routine health, weight, blood-pressure, etc. you often just see the nurse. Someone who has small children is entitled to the Health Visitor's visit. The way to contact the Health Visitor is to go to the local surgery and give your name. Prescriptions are covered under NHS for all children sixteen and under. You will be asked to sign a form at the "Chemists" (the drug store) when you get the prescription for free.

Medical Emergencies

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES ----- PHONE 999

Phone 999 for any life-threatening emergency. Be prepared to give the location, the type of emergency, and the telephone number you are calling from (used to locate you if disconnected).

In case of Emergency, you go to the Casualty Unit of the closest public hospital. Once you have seen a GP for assessment, you can ask to be treated as a private patient if you have coverage for it. You can stay for treatment at the public hospital or you can ask to be seen at another Private Hospital. There are many private hospitals to choose from

Area Public Hospitals

Private Hospitals

Many private hospitals offer Well Woman and Well Man Screening, physical examinations, sports injuries clinics, and other medical procedures. If you have private medical insurance, check with your GP, or call the hospital. No Emergency care is available at private hospitals. Fund-holding practices may have quicker access to ancillary health services like physiotherapy (PT) and to specialist doctors (called consultants). Check with the practice manager at your surgery.

General Practitioners or Surgeries

Gerards Cross / Chalfonts / Amersham / Beaconsfield Area

Amersham / Chesham Area

Farnham Common / Farnham Royal / Stoke Poges

Northwood / Ricksmanworth Area

Windsor

London

Private Doctors

London Hospitals with Emergency Department

Central

St. Thomas Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1

West

Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London W6

North West

Edgware General Hospital, Edgware Road, Middlesex, HA8 0AD (minor injuries)

Northwick Park, Watford Road, Harrow, Middx. HA1 3UJ

Central Middlesex Hospital, Acton Lane, Park Royal, London NW10

Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London NW3

South West

Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton Lane, London SW15 (minor injuries)

West Middlesex University Hospital, Twickenham Road, Isleworth, Middx. TW7 6AF

Kingston Hospital, Calsworthy Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT2 7QB

South/South East

St. Helier Hospital, Wrythe Lane, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 1AA

Bromley Hospital, 17 Cromwell Avenue, Bromley, Kent BR2 9AJ

Dermatologists

Orthopedic

Chiropractor

Osteopath

Entomologist

Eye Specialist

Nutritionist

Occupational Therapist

Optometrist

Pediatric Endocrinologists

Pediatric Urologist

Pharmacies (also known as Chemists)

Each village has several chemists with regular hours. Tesco also has pharmacies and many are open until 10 p.m. during the weekdays. There are always chemists open for limited hours on Sundays for emergency prescriptions. These change each week and are listed in local newspapers, on the window or door of your local chemist, and at your doctor's surgery.

Opticians

Children are entitled to two free eye examinations a year under the NHS. Most village centres have opticians. You may want to check with neighbours to see to whom they go.

Dentists and Orthodontists

Children can have dental care for free under the NHS. Cleaning the teeth by a dental hygienist does cost extra. Adults must pay for dental care. There are insurance plans available. The dentist does an assessment of your mouth and will advise you how to apply for insurance. Ask the dentist that you call whether he is under NHS or private. Some serve patients under both schemes. Expect orthodontic treatment to be private.

Dentists

Gerrards Cross / Chalfont St. Peter / Amersham

Farnham Common / Farnham Royal / Stoke Poges

Northwood / Rickmansworth / Pinner

Windsor

London

Children's Dentists

Adult Dentists

Orthodontists