As soon as you arrive in Bristol, you need to register with an NHS doctor. This can either be with a practice close to your place of residence or with one of the practices serving the main University sites. If you fall ill during vacations or while away from Bristol, you can see any local doctor as a temporary resident.
The general practices serving the main University sites are:
- Bower Ashton: students living near the Bower Ashton Campus may register with Dr Ring, 2 Charles Place, Hotwells, Bristol BS8 4QW (telephone (0117) 929 4334) or with Dr Foreman, Long Ashton Surgery, 55 Rayens Cross Road, Bristol BS41 9DY (telephone 01275 392 134).
- University residences in the City Centre: Dr Smythe and Partners, The Malago Surgery, 40 St Johns Road, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4JE (telephone 0117 966 3587) provide a branch surgery on the ground floor of the Favell House student flats, Queen Charlotte Street (next to the Spar shop).
- Frenchay: students living on or near the Frenchay Campus may register with Dr Todd and Partners, Bradley Stoke Surgery, Brook Way, Bradley Stoke, South Glos BS32 9DS (telephone 01454 616262) who also have a branch surgery at 23 Carroll Court on the Frenchay Campus. The Carroll Court surgery is open from 9.30 to 13.30, Monday to Thursday and a nurse is in attendance at these times. A doctor is available at the surgery from 12.00 to 13.00, Monday to Thursday. Students can see the nurse without an appointment or may make an appointment with the doctor by telephoning the Bradley Stoke Surgery.
- Glenside and St Matthias: students living on or near these campuses may register with Dr Hepburn and Partners at The Old School Surgery, Manor Road, Fishponds, BS16 2JD (telephone (0117) 965 3102), Dr Anstey and Partners, Fishponds Family Practice (telephone (0117) 908 2365) or Dr Wallace and Partners, Beechwood Medical Practice (telephone (0117) 908 2360) both at the Fishponds Health Centre, Beechwood Road, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 3TD.
- Hartpury: students living on or near the Hartpury Campus may register with Dr Docherty and Partners at The Surgery, Corse, Staunton, Gloucester GL19 3RB (telephone 01452 840228). A nurse is available for appointments at the college Monday to Friday mornings and, unless there is an emergency, students are encouraged to see the nurse before making an appointment to see a doctor. Students living in college accommodation off campus, are advised to register with a local doctor's surgery close to where they live.
A full list of other general practitioners in the Bristol area, which is always up to date, is available on the Avon Primary Care Support Agency website. You can also telephone NHS Direct on (0845) 4647 who will carry out searches for you. If you have any difficulty in becoming registered with a doctor, you should contact Avon Primary Care Support Agency, tel. (0117) 976 6600.
NHS Direct, tel. (0845) 4647, provides medical advice 24 hours a day. It also has information about local and national support groups covering a wide range of problems including eating disorders, drug and alcohol issues, and allergies which can be accessed by telephone or through the website.